Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied claims that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) entered into an electoral agreement with him to secure his re-election in the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke described the claim by ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, as false, insisting that the party was not part of the political alliance that supported his victory.
Abdullahi had told Trust TV that the ADC deliberately worked with the Accord Party during the election to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from reclaiming Osun State.
He explained that the party feared that splitting opposition votes by aggressively fielding its candidate could benefit the APC, leading it to cooperate with Accord.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke rejected the account.
The governor said his victory was made possible by God and the people of Osun, while acknowledging the contribution of political allies who supported his campaign.
“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,” Adeleke said.
Abdullahi had earlier maintained that the ADC did not consider the 17,180 votes secured by its candidate, Najeem Salaam, a failure, arguing that the party’s main objective was to prevent the APC from winning the election.
Asked whether the ADC directed its supporters to vote for Adeleke, Abdullahi said the party “cooperated with the Accord Party.”
He, however, acknowledged that Adeleke remained the principal beneficiary of the election outcome, saying the victory belonged to the governor, who “in spite of all odds” emerged victorious.
Despite the disagreement over the role played by the ADC, Adeleke adopted a conciliatory tone, saying the election was now over and his administration would serve all residents of the state regardless of their political affiliations.
“Now that the election is over, I am a governor of all Osun people irrespective of political groups, religion or race,” he said.