The Imole Campaign Council has dismissed reports suggesting that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, plans to defect from the Accord Party to the All Progressives Congress following his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
The council described Adeleke’s visit to the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja as a customary engagement expected of governors who emerge victorious in off-cycle elections.
The council made its position known in a statement on Thursday by the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam.
According to Salam, Adeleke’s visit was primarily to show respect and appreciation to President Tinubu, who, in his pre-election statements, had repeatedly called on security agencies and the electoral umpire to ensure a free and fair election in Osun State.
He said the meeting also provided an opportunity for the President and the governor to discuss issues concerning peace, security and the development of Osun State following what he described as a tense election.
Salam, however, said the meeting had nothing to do with any plan by Adeleke or members of his political team to join 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,” he said.
He further stated that the issue of defection to the APC was not discussed at any point 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,” Salam added.
The clarification followed the meeting between Tinubu and Adeleke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, the governor’s first official engagement with the President since his victory in the August 15 Osun governorship election.
Adeleke, who secured 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, had earlier received Tinubu’s congratulatory message after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared him winner of the poll.
The Imole Campaign Council appreciated President Tinubu for granting Adeleke and members of his team the opportunity to meet with him.
The council also assured Adeleke’s supporters that the governor remained committed to serving the people of Osun State and would continue to focus on the mandate given to him by voters in the recently concluded election.
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