Maha Christopher
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress and the re-election campaign council of Governor Ademola Adeleke have exchanged words over the implications of a Federal High Court judgment that derecognised the Accord Party.
According to The Punch, the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council said the ruling could affect Adeleke’s bid for a second term, as the governor is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement signed by the Head of the council’s Media and Publicity Committee, Remi Omowaiye, the APC said it respected the court’s decision and argued that the judgment had significant implications for Adeleke’s political future.
“Until the decision of the Federal High Court is set aside by a competent appellate court, Adeleke will not be contesting the governorship election on the platform of the Accord,” Omowaiye said.
He further noted that pending litigations concerning the leadership of the Accord Party at the national level could also have implications for the party’s participation in future elections.
However, the governor’s campaign council dismissed the APC’s position, insisting that Adeleke remains focused on securing re-election.
Reacting to the development, the spokesman for Adeleke’s re-election campaign council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said efforts by the opposition to derail the governor’s campaign had failed.
“All attempts by the Osun APC to frustrate, undermine, or prevent the successful flag-off of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election campaign have failed,” Olajengbesi said.
He described the controversy surrounding the court judgment as a distraction, maintaining that the governor remained popular among residents of the state.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke remains the choice of the majority of the people, and no amount of political desperation can alter that reality,” he stated.
Olajengbesi also argued that the APC lacked a convincing alternative to the governor’s administration, which he said had recorded achievements in healthcare, education, infrastructure, workers’ welfare and economic development.
“The forthcoming election belongs to the people, and it is their votes that will determine the future of the state, not propaganda, intimidation, manufactured controversies, or political distractions,” he added.
The disagreement comes as political activities intensify ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
