Ademola Adeleke
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has ruled out any possibility of defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu.
The clarification came on Friday through the spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who addressed journalists in Abuja. He dismissed widespread speculation that the governor’s meeting with the President signalled an imminent move to the APC.
“The essence of that visit has nothing to do with Governor Ademola Adeleke joining APC. It’s an impossibility. Governor Ademola Adeleke is not joining APC,” Olajengbesi stated.
He explained that the visit was a courtesy call and a demonstration of respect for the office of the President. Adeleke, who secured re-election on the platform of the Accord Party in the August 15 governorship election, also used the opportunity to thank Tinubu for ensuring a level playing field during the polls and to discuss issues of peace, security and development in Osun State.
Olajengbesi assured that the governor would continue to work with the Federal Government to promote progress in both Osun State and the country at large, while remaining in his current political party.
The Imole Campaign Council, in a separate statement signed by its Media and Publicity Committee Chairman, Bamidele Salam, reinforced the position. It described the visit as consistent with political tradition after off-cycle elections and insisted that the issue of defection was never discussed during the closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa.
Rumours of a possible switch to the APC had intensified after Adeleke’s separate engagements with President Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Abuja on Thursday.
Adeleke’s camp urged supporters to disregard the speculation, reaffirming the governor’s commitment to serving the people of Osun State.
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