Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied entering into any agreement with the All Progressives Congress to share legislative or local government positions in the state.
Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday, said the clarification became necessary following social media reports alleging that a deal with the Presidency ahead of the 2027 general elections included the sharing of political positions.
According to the reports, local government positions, as well as Senate, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly seats to be contested in 2027, had been shared between the Osun Accord and the state APC.
The governor, who reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, said negotiations to resolve the local government crisis were aimed at protecting the interests of both APC chairmen and elected Peoples Democratic Party chairmen and councillors.
He described reports of a position-sharing arrangement as “mere fabrication and fake news.”
The statement read, “As the governor of all Osun indigenes and residents, we are working to resolve the local government matter by ensuring that all interests are protected and cared for.
“As of now, all stakeholders agree that restoring grassroots governance is a condition for our successful campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.”
Adeleke assured that the local government crisis would be resolved before the end of the year, stressing that he had not entered into any agreement to share legislative seats with the Osun APC.
“What unites the coalition partners is only the presidential election.
“As I said while inaugurating the Presidential Campaign Council, the coalition is targeted at the presidential election. Partners agreed to join hands to ensure our dear President is re-elected.
“All other legislative positions are open for competition. I will work and campaign for Accord candidates for Senate, House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly.
“I urge all political parties to campaign for their candidates as I will do for Accord candidates. We have no deal on the National Assembly and the state Assembly elections. All our candidates will face the electorate, who have the final say,” he said.
On Thursday, the governor insisted that the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ championed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to garner votes for Tinubu would not cause confusion among Osun voters in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Ede while inaugurating the campaign committee for the re-election of the Osun West Senatorial candidate of the Accord, Lere Oyewumi, Adeleke, represented by the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, described Oyewumi, who currently serves as the Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, as a quality representative with enviable records of service.
He added that the lawmaker had made the state proud, saying his re-election had been made easy by his track record of effective representation and performance since his election into the National Assembly.
He appealed to members of the committee to work with total commitment to ensure victory for the party in the poll.
The governor said, “On the rumour going around in town about ‘Rainbow Coalition,’ don’t let that give us any headache. Let me state again that we are only going to vote for the All Progressives Congress in the presidential election only.
“The National and State Assembly elections will be for the Accord. There should be no confusion among the voters.
“I want to appeal to the members of the campaign committee to work hard and ensure the victory of Senator Lere Oyewumi. There is nothing like 99.9 per cent loyalty. Your loyalty should be 100 per cent.”
Oyewumi attributed the growing acceptability of Accord in Osun to the leadership and performance of Adeleke.
The lawmaker said his senatorial ambition was long planned, adding that his experience in the Senate had better equipped him for service.
“Adeleke is a pathfinder, and his re-election has shown that Osun people love him, and that love will translate to victory for all Accord candidates in the general election.
“In my three and a half years in the Red Chamber, I have learned a lot. What I thought was not possible has been proven to me to be possible. So I am more prepared, more equipped and more determined to give my best to every community in Osun West Senatorial District,” Oyewumi said.
He promised more infrastructural and social development, adding, “For the people of Osun West, more development is coming – better roads, improved schools and hospitals, clean water, and solar streetlights that will light up every corner of the district.”
Highlighting some of the achievements of the senator since assuming office, the Director-General of the campaign committee, Adesoye Oyetunde, said, “Oyewumi has not disappointed us. Out of the 10 local governments we have in this senatorial district, the senator tarred roads in eight of them. In the remaining two, he has already flagged off construction.
“There is no local government in Osun West where Oyewumi has not built classrooms. In terms of healthcare, farm inputs and other interventions, the senator has done a lot for his people, and I know he will do more.”
The PUNCH earlier reported that Adeleke was appointed by Tinubu as campaign coordinator for the presidential campaign in Osun.
At the inauguration of the 344-member campaign council in the state, however, some prominent APC leaders were absent as Adeleke tasked the team with coordinating Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the state ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Former governor, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola; the APC candidate in the governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji; the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke, among others, were absent.
Former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, however, led other APC chieftains to the event, where Adeleke inaugurated the council.
Those present included the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru; a former National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore; two former deputy governors of Osun State, Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin; Babajide Omoworare; and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.
Other attendees included the Osun Central Senatorial Leader of the APC, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Afolabi; and former Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Prof. Olu Aina, among others.
Source: punchng.com
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