Adeleke's Meeting with Tinubu is Routine, No Plan to Join APC, Campaign Council

The Imole Campaign Council, which is the campaign group for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has denied rumors that he plans to switch from the Accord Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This follows his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement released on Friday, Bamidele Salam, who is the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, said the governor's visit to the president is part of the political customs after off-cycle governorship elections.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Adeleke visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday. During this visit, he presented his certificate of return to Mr Tinubu and held a closed-door meeting with him.

Mr Adeleke won the Osun State governorship election on August 15, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He defeated Bola Oyebamiji of the APC to secure a second term.

INEC later confirmed their victory by presenting certificates of return to Mr Adeleke and his deputy on Wednesday.

The campaign council emphasized that the governor’s visit to Mr Tinubu should not be seen as a sign that he intends to join the ruling APC.

"The Imole Campaign Council wishes to state that the visit by Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday is in line with customs and political tradition at the conclusion of off-cycle elections in Nigeria," Mr Salam stated.

The council explained that as the winner, Mr Adeleke needed to show respect and appreciation to the president, especially since he is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

They also pointed out that Mr Tinubu had called on the electoral body and security agencies to ensure a free and fair election before the election took place.

Mr Salam added that the meeting was a chance for Mr Tinubu and Mr Adeleke to discuss important issues related to peace, security, and development in Osun State after a tough election.

"The visit also afforded Mr President as the father of the Nation and the Osun State Governor a platform to discuss issues pertaining to peace, security and progress of Osun State after the tensed election," he said.

The campaign council strongly denied any reports suggesting that the meeting pointed to a possible switch by Mr Adeleke from the Accord Party to the APC.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the visit of Mr Governor and top members of his Campaign team had absolutely nothing to do with a plan to move from Accord to the All Progressives Congress as being insinuated in certain quarters," the statement said.

The council confirmed that the topic of Mr Adeleke joining the APC did not come up during the meeting.

"We wish to state unequivocally that at no stage during the visit to Mr President was the issue of decamping to the APC discussed," Mr Salam said.

The statement aimed to reassure the governor’s supporters that his political loyalty has not changed despite meeting with the president.

The governor’s visit attracted attention because it happened shortly after his re-election and during a time of political changes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He was accompanied by key figures, including Lere Oyewumi, the Director-General of the Adeleke Campaign Council; Sunday Bisi, a member of the council; Kazeem Akinleye, his Chief of Staff; and Mr Salam, who represents Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.