Two senior Accord party leaders in Lagos State have formally asked Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to publicly declare his political allegiance following reports that he has been appointed as the state coordinator for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 presidential campaign. The request came in an open letter dated Thursday, October 15, and addressed to Adeleke and the party's national leadership.
The letter was jointly signed by Oke Sewedo, a party leader in the Lagos West Senatorial District, and Oladeji Oluwatosin, the Lagos State Accord chairman, under the banner of the Concerned Leaders of Accord, Lagos State. The signatories acknowledged that Adeleke's governorship victory on the Accord platform was a significant milestone for the party, saying it had strengthened their belief in Accord as a credible vehicle for governance and political change.
Concern Over Dual Roles in 2027 Election Cycle
However, the leaders expressed deep concern over the apparent conflict of interest. They questioned how a sitting governor elected under Accord could simultaneously coordinate the presidential campaign of a candidate from another political party while Accord itself was preparing its own candidates for the same election cycle. The letter stated: "The concern is straightforward: how can a sitting governor elected under Accord simultaneously coordinate the presidential campaign of a candidate belonging to another political party, while Accord itself is preparing its candidates and supporters for the same general election? This portends grave danger to the electoral aspiration and prospect of Accord candidates in Osun State and Nigeria at large."
The leaders warned that conflicting signals from Adeleke could discourage party members who had committed their time and resources to building Accord. They also feared that the situation could weaken confidence among voters and candidates seeking legislative seats in Osun at the Senate and House of Representatives levels. The letter pointed to Accord's presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, noting that the party required a coherent internal structure for its campaign to be effective in 2027.
Two Clear Options for Adeleke
The letter presented Adeleke with two explicit options. If he remained committed to Accord, the leaders urged him to withdraw from his reported role in Tinubu's campaign structure and demonstrate through his actions that he still supported the party's electoral interests. If his allegiance had shifted, they asked him to say so openly and follow the procedures set out in the party's constitution.
The letter read: "If your political allegiance has genuinely shifted elsewhere, we respectfully urge you to make your position clear and take the appropriate steps in accordance with the party's constitution and applicable law, rather than leave members and candidates in a state of uncertainty." The signatories stressed that their appeal carried no personal animosity towards the governor, framing it instead as a question of accountability to the platform through which he secured his mandate.
Call for National Leadership Action
Beyond addressing Adeleke directly, the Concerned Leaders of Accord urged the party's national leadership to issue a formal statement, engage Adeleke directly, and put in place measures to safeguard the party's candidates across the country. They argued that the party's electoral prospects in Osun and nationwide depended on a unified and clear stance from its leaders.
The development comes amid reports that Adeleke has been named as the Osun coordinator for Tinubu's 2027 presidential campaign, a role that has sparked debate within the party. Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Adeleke had spoken out about his support for Tinubu, and a video of him dancing at an APC campaign council inauguration had trended online. The Accord leaders' letter adds to the growing scrutiny of Adeleke's political positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
