Key Takeaways
- Governor Ademola Adeleke has categorically denied any electoral agreement with the ADC.
- The ADC claimed it collaborated with the Accord Party to stop the APC in Osun.
- Adeleke insists his victory was achieved through the support of Osun people and named political partners.
- The governor calls for unity and says he now leads all Osun residents regardless of party affiliation.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has firmly refuted claims of a pre-election pact with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), asserting that the party played no role in his successful re-election campaign. The governor's response comes days after the ADC alleged that it worked with the Accord Party to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from securing the governorship seat.
The Governor's Denial
In a statement released on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke dismissed any suggestion of an electoral arrangement with the ADC. He said that his victory on Saturday was delivered by the people of Osun and the political partners who actively campaigned for his return to office. 'I commend political partners who went all out to make Saturday a victory day for all Osun people. But we must clarify for the sake of history that ADC was never part of the alliance,' the governor was quoted as saying.
Background of the ADC Claim
The ADC's national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, had earlier said the party collaborated with the Accord Party specifically to stop the APC from winning the election. According to Abdullahi, this collaboration was part of broader efforts to keep the APC out of Osun State's corridors of power. However, Adeleke's camp maintains that the ADC was not among the coalition of parties and groups that supported his re-election bid.
Election Context and Political Dynamics
The Osun State governorship election, conducted last Saturday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saw Adeleke declared winner for a second term. The contest was closely watched as part of the political realignment in the South-West, where alliances and counter-alliances often shape outcomes. The Accord Party and the ADC are smaller parties compared with the APC and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to which Adeleke belongs.
Political analysts say such denial statements are common in post-election periods as parties try to position themselves for future negotiations and appointments. Yet the governor's emphasis on the support of 'the people' underscores his narrative of a grassroots mandate rather than a backroom deal.
Focus On Governance
Adeleke, who attributed his success to God and the electorate, stressed that his administration would now focus on governing the entire state irrespective of political differences. 'Now that the election is over, I am a governor of all Osun people irrespective of political groups, religion or race,' he said. This statement is seen as an attempt to unify the state after a fiercely contested electoral process.
With the election behind him, Adeleke faces the task of delivering on campaign promises while managing the expectations of diverse political stakeholders. His outright rejection of the ADC's narrative may also signal the beginning of a new round of political realignment ahead of future elections.
Why This Matters
The dispute over who contributed to Adeleke's victory is more than political posturing; it shapes the balance of power and political alliances in Osun State. By publicly denying any pact with the ADC, the governor is defining his mandate on his own terms and setting the tone for governance in his second term.