OSOGBO — Some executive members of the Accord Party in Osun have “appealed to Gov. Ademola Adeleke to support the party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.”
This is contained in “a statement jointly signed by the party’s Public Relations Officer, Daniel Adedayo, and Youth Leader, Tolulope Babalola, on Thursday in Osogbo.” The members threatened “to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the Aug. 15 election, Bola Oyebamiji, if the governor failed to back the party’s presidential candidate.”
They stated that “if Adeleke chooses to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, some party members in the state would mobilise support for the APC governorship candidate.” The members urged “the governor to respect the party’s leadership, constitution and collective decisions, warning that actions perceived to be against the party’s interest would attract appropriate response.” “If the governor believes President Tinubu deserves re-election in 2027, then Oyebamiji should equally be considered fit to govern Osun,” they stated.
The members said that “it was an act of ‘indiscipline’ for the governor not to support the party’s presidential candidate or strengthen its structure in the state.” They noted that “although Adeleke is the leader of the party in the state, he cannot unilaterally determine or speak for the Accord Party on national political matters.” “Gov. Adeleke remains only one voice among many in the party nationwide and cannot dictate for the party,” the members added.
Reacting, “the party’s Chairman in the state, Mr Victor Akande, dismissed the claims, saying that the Accord Party has no presidential candidate.” Akande said “the individual laying claim to the party’s presidential ticket is neither a member nor recognised by its leadership.” He warned “members against what he described as false claims aimed at creating disunity within the party.” The chairman also said that “the signatories to the statement were former officers who currently hold no official positions.” According to him, “the party presently has no youth leader or public relations officer, and is being run by a state caretaker committee comprising the chairman and secretary, with the support of other executive members.” He added that “the committee is focusing on Adeleke’s re-election in the Aug. 15 governorship election.”