The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has dismissed the recent endorsement of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, by former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and other members of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, saying the move will not affect Governor Ademola Adeleke’s chances of securing re-election.
The Accord State Chairman, Victor Akande, made the position known in a statement personally signed and released in Osogbo on Monday.
Akande alleged that Oyinlola, former Secretary to the State Government Fatai Akinbade and former PDP National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Tajudeen Oladipo, worked against Adeleke during the 2018 and 2022 governorship elections but failed to prevent his victory in 2022.
According to him, the trio later returned to Adeleke’s camp after his victory and benefited from the governor’s administration despite allegedly opposing his emergence.
Akande described Oyinlola’s decision to support Oyebamiji as politically insignificant, accusing the former governor and his allies of being opportunistic.
He said, “Osun Accord remains ever strong and Governor Adeleke remains unbeatable in the forthcoming polls. Those who left have never really supported the governor in previous election battles.
“In 2018 and 2022, they voted and worked against the governor. They failed to stop the governor’s victory. After they failed, they rejoined the governor and enjoyed positive treatment from the administration whose emergence they did not support.
“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.”
The Accord chairman further claimed that the defecting politicians lacked the grassroots influence required to sway voters against Adeleke, insisting that the governor remained popular across the state.
“Go to their local governments; they lack the political capital to swing the people against a governor who is widely acknowledged locally and internationally to have positively transformed Osun State,” Akande said.
He described the politicians as “political ingrates and opportunists,” adding that their departure from Adeleke’s camp would not weaken the governor’s support base.
Akande subsequently urged residents across the state to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, expressing confidence that Adeleke would retain his position.
The statement followed the endorsement of Oyebamiji by Oyinlola-led members of the PDP in Osun State on Sunday.
Speaking at an event in Osogbo, Oyinlola said the group decided to support the APC candidate because of what he described as a lack of inclusion in the Adeleke administration.
Oyinlola, who was accompanied by Akinbade and Oladipo, however, clarified that the group had not left the PDP.
He said the decision to adopt Oyebamiji was taken after members considered it necessary and believed it was in the best interest of the state.
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