Some Accord Party candidates contesting for seats in the National Assembly and Osun State House of Assembly have reportedly rejected Governor Ademola Adeleke’s appointment as Osun State Coordinator of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, expressing fears that the decision could jeopardise their electoral ambitions.
The aggrieved candidates reportedly expressed displeasure over the governor’s decision to coordinate the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a rival party in Osun State, while candidates of the Accord Party are also preparing to contest legislative seats in the forthcoming elections.
One of the candidates, who spoke anonymously on behalf of others, accused Adeleke of failing to prioritise the interests of the party and its members who supported him and contributed to his re-election victory.
According to the source, the governor’s decision to work for the APC in the same election in which Accord Party candidates would be seeking electoral mandates could undermine their campaigns and place them at a political disadvantage.
The source said the candidates considered the development a source of concern, arguing that their political interests and the commitment of party members who worked for Adeleke’s electoral success should have been taken into consideration before the decision was made.
The anonymous candidate further disclosed that the affected National and State Assembly candidates had unanimously resolved to mobilise support for their preferred candidates, irrespective of the governor’s political alignment in the presidential election.
He added that they had also decided to embark on parallel campaign activities, distancing their legislative campaigns from Adeleke’s arrangement with the APC.
The reported decision signals a potential disagreement within the Accord Party over how the governor’s involvement in Tinubu’s presidential campaign could affect the electoral fortunes of candidates seeking legislative positions under the party’s platform.
Despite their grievances, the source expressed appreciation to members and supporters of the Accord Party, assuring them that their sacrifices, commitment and contributions to the party would not be in vain.
He maintained that the party’s members and supporters would continue to have a role in determining the candidates they would support in the forthcoming elections.
