Governor insists his re-election was powered by God and Osun people, not any pre-election deal with rival party
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has fiercely rebutted claims by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that a pre-election collaboration with his Accord party secured his landslide victory in the August 15 governorship election.
In a sharp dismissal that has set the political arena buzzing, Adeleke categorically stated that there was “no electoral deal or partnership” with the ADC before, during, or after the poll.
What Sparked the Controversy
The dispute erupted when ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi appeared on Trust TV on Monday, claiming his party had strategically collaborated with Accord to prevent vote-splitting that could have handed victory to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We saw the possibility of collaboration… the possibility that the opposition would divide the votes and the APC would take the victory was there,” Abdullahi stated. “That was why we saw the opportunity to work together, and that was what happened.”
Adeleke’s Firm Response
But the governor wasted no time in setting the record straight via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday:
“I had no electoral deal or partnership with the ADC before, during, or after the governorship election. The credit for our victory goes to God Almighty and the good people of Osun State for their overwhelming support and re-election.”
He further clarified: “For the sake of history, it is important to clarify that the ADC was never part of the rainbow coalition that canvassed, mobilised, and supported our campaign in the battle leading to last Saturday’s election.”
The Numbers Tell the Story
Adeleke secured a commanding victory with 511,067 votes, defeating APC’s Bola Oyebamiji who polled 444,815 votes, while ADC’s Najeem Salaam managed only 17,180 votes.
The governor won 19 of the 30 local government areas, with the APC claiming the remaining 11.
Appreciation for Genuine Allies
While rejecting the ADC’s claim, Adeleke took time to acknowledge his actual political partners:
“I commend all our political partners who sacrificed, worked tirelessly, and went all out to make Saturday a victory day for all Osun people. Their commitment and support were instrumental to our success.”
A Governor for All
Striking a conciliatory tone, Adeleke emphasized his commitment to unity:
“Now that the election is over, I remain the Governor of all Osun people, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, or tribe. My commitment is to unite our people and continue working for the progress and prosperity of Osun State.”
