By John Dike, Osogbo
The Imole Campaign Council has dismissed speculation that the recent visit of the re-elected Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a prelude to his defection from the Accord Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It described the governor’s visit to the President as a customary post-election engagement and part of the political tradition in Nigeria, particularly after the conclusion of off-cycle governorship elections.
The clarification came amid speculation in some political circles that Adeleke’s meeting with President Tinubu could signal an impending political realignment in Osun State, following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Imole Campaign Council, Rep. Bamidele Salam, said there was no political agreement or arrangement for Adeleke to leave the Accord Party for the APC.
Salam explained that Governor Adeleke, having emerged victorious in the governorship election, considered it appropriate to pay a courtesy visit to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
According to him, such a visit should not be interpreted as an indication that the governor intended to abandon the political platform on which he contested and won the election.
The council noted that Adeleke, like other governors who emerge victorious in off-cycle elections, had a responsibility to show respect and appreciation to the office of the President, irrespective of political differences.
It recalled that President Tinubu had, in several pre-election speeches and public statements, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to provide a level playing field and ensure that the Osun governorship election was conducted in a free and fair manner.
The council said the visit therefore offered the governor an opportunity to acknowledge the President’s role and engage him on matters affecting the state.
It added that the meeting was not limited to political courtesies, as both the President and the governor had the opportunity to discuss issues relating to peace, security and the development of Osun State following a keenly contested and, at some points, tense electoral process.
The campaign council stressed that maintaining a cordial relationship between the state government and the Federal Government was necessary for the benefit of the people of Osun State.
It said political differences between individuals or parties should not prevent elected leaders from engaging one another on issues affecting the welfare and security of citizens.
However, the council was unequivocal in rejecting claims that the visit was designed to pave the way for Adeleke’s defection to the APC.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the visit of Mr Governor and top members of his Campaign team had absolutely nothing to do with a plan to move from Accord to the All Progressives Congress as being insinuated in certain quarters,” the statement said.
The council further stated that the issue of defection was not discussed at any point during Adeleke’s meeting with Tinubu.
“We wish to state unequivocally that at no stage during the visit to Mr President was the issue of decamping to the APC discussed,” it added.
The statement is coming against the backdrop of increased political speculation following Adeleke’s re-election as governor of Osun State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Adeleke the winner of the August 15 election after the completion of the collation process, giving him another mandate to govern the state.
His victory has generated political reactions from various parties and stakeholders, with attention now shifting towards the next phase of governance and political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Imole Campaign Council, however, urged supporters of the governor and members of the public not to attach political meanings to what it described as a normal constitutional and political engagement between two elected leaders.
The council maintained that the governor’s priority remained the governance and development of Osun State rather than political defection.
It also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for granting Adeleke and members of his campaign team an audience, describing the opportunity as useful for discussing issues of importance to the state.
The campaign council assured supporters of Adeleke that the governor remained committed to the mandate given to him by the people of Osun State during the recently concluded governorship election.
It said the people of the state who supported Adeleke during the election deserved a government focused on delivering good governance, maintaining peace and pursuing policies capable of improving their welfare.
The council therefore urged supporters to remain calm and disregard what it described as unfounded insinuations concerning the governor’s political future.
It reiterated that Adeleke’s visit to President Tinubu should be viewed within the context of the responsibilities of elected leaders and the need for cooperation between the Federal Government and Osun State Government.
Salam said the Imole Campaign Council remained grateful to President Tinubu for receiving the governor and his team, while assuring the people of Osun State of Adeleke’s continued commitment to their service.
