Osun 2027: Adeleke denies seat-sharing deal with APC, limits Tinubu alliance to Presidency

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has denied allegations that he reached a political deal with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to share legislative positions and local government offices ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that his alliance with President Bola Tinubu is limited to the presidential contest.

The governor’s clarification comes amid social media reports alleging that negotiations involving the Presidency would see the Accord Party and the Osun APC divide positions in the Senate, House of Representatives, state House of Assembly and local government councils.

Adeleke described the reports as “mere fabrication and fake news”, maintaining that no agreement had been reached to share legislative seats with the opposition party.

However, his statement raises important political questions about the scope of the emerging coalition, the unresolved local government crisis in Osun and how the alliance supporting Tinubu’s re-election could affect political competition in the state.

Tinubu alliance versus Osun political contest

Adeleke reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 but drew a distinction between the presidential campaign and other elections.

According to the governor, the coalition was established specifically to secure another presidential term for Tinubu, while candidates seeking legislative positions would compete independently for voters’ support.

“As I said while inaugurating the Presidential Campaign Council, the coalition is targeted at the presidential election. Partners agreed to join hands to ensure our dear president is re-elected. All other legislative positions are open for competition,” Adeleke said.

He added that he would campaign for Accord Party candidates contesting for the Senate, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly, while encouraging other political parties to support their respective candidates.

“We have no deal on the National Assembly and the State Assembly elections. All our candidates will face the electorate who has the final say,” he said.

READ ALSO; Governor Adeleke orders probe into killing of Accord Chieftain in Osun

The position suggests that Adeleke intends to maintain his political alliance with Tinubu without surrendering Accord Party’s electoral interests in Osun to the APC.

It also leaves open the question of how the two political camps will manage competing ambitions in constituencies where their candidates seek the same seats.

Local government crisis at the centre of negotiations

Beyond the legislative contests, the unresolved local government dispute appears to be a major factor in the negotiations between the governor’s camp and other political stakeholders.

Adeleke said discussions were focused on resolving the crisis while protecting the interests of APC-backed local government chairpersons and elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairpersons and councillors.

He maintained that restoring grassroots governance was essential to the political reconciliation process and preparations for the 2027 elections.

“As the governor of all Osun indigenes and residents, we are working to resolve the local government matter by ensuring that all interests are protected and cared for,” he said.

The governor added that stakeholders had agreed that restoring grassroots administration was a condition for a successful campaign ahead of the next general election.

He expressed confidence that the crisis would be resolved before the end of the year.

However, Adeleke’s statement did not provide specific details of the proposed settlement, including the terms under consideration, the mechanism for reconciling the rival local government administrations or the precise roles of the Presidency and the political parties involved.

These details will be crucial in determining whether the negotiations can produce a lasting resolution rather than a temporary political accommodation.

Questions over the political implications

The denial of a seat-sharing agreement highlights the distinction between cooperation at the presidential level and competition at the state and constituency levels.

While Adeleke has publicly committed to Tinubu’s re-election, he has insisted that the alliance does not prevent Accord Party candidates from challenging APC candidates in legislative elections.

This position could become a test of the coalition’s strength as the 2027 campaign approaches, particularly if both parties seek to retain or expand their representation in Osun.

The unresolved local government dispute adds another layer of complexity. Any settlement involving rival political interests would need to clarify how grassroots administration would operate and how the interests of the competing groups would be protected.

For now, the governor’s position is that the presidential alliance should not be interpreted as an agreement to distribute other elected offices between the participating political camps.

Whether that distinction holds in practice will depend on the outcome of the local government negotiations, the conduct of the parties during the election campaign and their willingness to allow voters to decide the legislative contests.

Adeleke has urged political parties to campaign for their candidates, insisting that the electorate, rather than a negotiated political arrangement, should determine who wins the National Assembly and state Assembly elections in Osun.