Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has firmly denied entering into any political deal with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to secure his victory in the 2026 governorship election. The governor made this clarification in response to claims by ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi that his party collaborated with Adeleke's camp during the election.
Adeleke Rejects ADC Collaboration Claims
In a post on X on Tuesday, Adeleke stated, “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.” He referred to the coalition as a group of political parties opposing the All Progressives Congress (APC), which controls the federal government.
The governor’s remarks came after Abdullahi claimed on Monday during an interview with Trust TV that the ADC’s low vote count was due to its collaboration with Adeleke’s party. Abdullahi said, “We saw the possibility of collaboration. We saw the possibility earlier enough that if we decided to go full throttle, the possibility that the opposition would divide the votes and the APC would take the victory was there. And that was why we saw the opportunity to work together, and that was what happened.”
Election Results and Political Context
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform, won the election with 511,067 votes. His main challenger, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, polled 444,815 votes. The ADC’s candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished a distant third with 17,018 votes. Adeleke’s winning margin of 66,252 votes was more than twice the 28,344-vote margin by which he defeated former Governor Gboyega Oyetola in the 2022 election.
The election was highly competitive, with the APC seeking to reclaim Osun State after losing to Adeleke in 2022. Abdullahi’s comments suggested that the ADC’s electoral performance was influenced by its decision to work with the governor’s political camp. However, Adeleke rejected this narrative, stating that the ADC should not be credited for his victory.
Governor’s Commitment to Unity and Progress
Adeleke commended all political partners who supported his campaign, saying, “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.” He added, “Their commitment and support were instrumental to our success.”
Looking ahead, Adeleke emphasized his role as governor for all Osun residents, regardless of political affiliation. “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,” he wrote.
