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The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has dismissed the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, by former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and some Peoples Democratic Party leaders, saying the move will not affect Governor Ademola Adeleke’s chances of securing re-election.
In a statement personally signed by the party’s state chairman, Victor Akande, and obtained in Osogbo on Monday, the Accord chairman alleged that Oyinlola, former Secretary to the State Government Fatai Akinbade and former Commissioner for Special Duties Tajudeen Oladipo had worked against Adeleke during the 2018 and 2022 governorship elections.
Akande claimed the trio failed to prevent Adeleke’s victory in 2022 before returning to the governor’s camp and benefiting from his administration.
He described Oyinlola’s latest decision to support the APC candidate as politically insignificant, accusing the former governor and his allies of moving between political camps for personal advantage.
“Osun Accord remains ever strong and Governor Adeleke remains unbeatable in the forthcoming polls,” Akande said.
He further alleged that the former PDP leaders had previously opposed Adeleke but returned to his administration after his victory.
“As another cycle of election is knocking again, they opportunistically moved back to a party that is killing and maiming Osun people. So their movement has no political effect on the re-election of Mr Governor,” he said.
Akande also claimed that the defecting leaders lacked sufficient grassroots support to influence the outcome of Saturday’s election. He described them as “political ingrates and opportunists” and urged residents to maintain their support for Adeleke through continued grassroots mobilisation.
The statement followed a Sunday declaration by a faction of the PDP in Osun State, led by Oyinlola, in support of Oyebamiji, the APC governorship candidate.
Speaking at the endorsement event in Osogbo, Oyinlola said the group had decided to part ways with Adeleke’s administration because of what it described as a lack of inclusion in the governor’s handling of state affairs.
Oyinlola, who was accompanied by Akinbade and Oladipo, clarified that the group had not left the PDP but had adopted Oyebamiji’s candidacy “out of conviction and sincere desire for the progress of the state.”
The endorsement adds a new dimension to the closely watched Osun governorship contest, with rival political camps seeking to consolidate support ahead of Saturday’s poll.
