The campaign team of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has denied reports that he is planning to defect from the Accord Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after meeting President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
In a statement released on Friday, Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee for the Imole Campaign Council, described the governor’s visit to the Presidential Villa as standard practice after off-cycle elections.
“The Imole Campaign Council wishes to state that the visit by Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday is in line with customs and political tradition at the conclusion of off-cycle elections in Nigeria,” the statement read.
According to the council, Adeleke’s trip was to show appreciation to the office of the President and Commander-in-Chief following his victory in the August 15 governorship poll. It also provided an opportunity to discuss peace, security, and the progress of Osun State after what it called a tense election.
The council stressed that Tinubu had earlier urged the electoral commission and security agencies to ensure a free and fair election in Osun.
“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 added. “We wish to state unequivocally that at no stage during the visit to Mr President was the issue of decamping to the APC discussed.”
Adeleke, who won a second term on the Accord platform, visited Tinubu on Thursday alongside National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The meeting came days after Tinubu called to congratulate him, describing the result as “a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our country.”
The governor defeated APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji in a closely contested race that was marked by allegations of violence and disputes.
The campaign council thanked the President for receiving Adeleke and his team, and reassured supporters that the governor remains focused on delivering on his mandate to the people of Osun.
