The Imole Campaign Council has dismissed speculation that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, plans to defect from the Accord Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as customary and unrelated to any defection plan.
The council made the clarification in a statement signed by Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, on Friday, August 21, 2026.
According to the statement, Adeleke’s visit to Tinubu was in line with the political tradition of governors who emerge victorious in off-cycle elections to pay a courtesy visit and show respect to the President.
The council said the meeting also provided an opportunity for the President and the Osun governor to discuss issues relating to peace, security and the progress of the state following what it described as a tense election.
The council further explained that President Tinubu had, during the pre-election period, maintained that electoral and security agencies should provide an environment for a free and fair election in Osun State.
However, the council said the visit had been wrongly interpreted in some quarters as a move by Adeleke and members of his campaign team to join the APC.
“For the avoidance of doubt,” the statement said, “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 council further stated that the issue of defection to the APC was not discussed at any point during the visit.
It expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for receiving the governor and assured Adeleke’s supporters that the governor remained committed to serving the people of Osun State.
The statement was signed by Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the Imole Campaign Council, and dated August 21, 2026.
The clarification comes amid renewed political speculation following Adeleke’s meeting with President Tinubu. Similar reports and denials surrounding a possible Adeleke defection have circulated previously, with public statements maintaining that such visits should not automatically be interpreted as plans to join the APC.
