BREAKING: Battle for Supremacy in Osun Takes a New Turn as Adeleke Strikes Last-minute Deal with ADC

The battle for political supremacy in Osun State has intensified ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with rival camps stepping up efforts to secure influential allies and consolidate their chances at the polls.

As political parties intensify their campaigns and negotiations, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is reportedly making fresh moves to win the support of former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, for its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.

According to findings by The Guardian, the APC’s efforts to secure Oyinlola’s backing have been ongoing for some time but were reportedly intensified in recent days as the election draws closer.

Sources quoted by the newspaper said Oyinlola, who is currently a leader of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), could announce his position on the election on Sunday.

The former governor was also said to have held a strategic meeting with members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and commercial motorcycle operators at his residence in Okuku. The meeting was reportedly attended by the Chairman of Odo Otin Local Government Area, Adepoju Oladele Iko.

The development comes amid reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke is making a discreet approach to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party led nationally by former Osun governor and ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Aregbesola’s political structure, the Omoluabi Progressives, played a significant role in Adeleke’s emergence as governor in the 2022 election after its members opposed the re-election bid of former APC governor Gboyega Oyetola.

The political relationship between Aregbesola and the APC subsequently deteriorated, eventually leading to his expulsion from the party.

Speculation about Oyinlola’s possible alignment with the APC gained momentum on Thursday in Osogbo during the flag-off of the N216 billion Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road project by President Bola Tinubu, who was represented at the event by Oyetola.

Speaking at the ceremony, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District on the APC platform, expressed confidence that the party would defeat Adeleke at the poll.

“We will win this election because we have the support of the people,” Fadahunsi said.

He further declared that Oyinlola’s presence within the APC camp would strengthen the party’s chances.

“The former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is currently with us. Nothing will stop us from defeating Governor Ademola Adeleke next Saturday,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Senior Special Assistant to Adeleke, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that discussions were ongoing between the governor’s camp and the ADC.

“There is ongoing negotiation with the ADC and our camp. Before this week Wednesday, something would come up from the talks,” the aide said.

The official also claimed that Aregbesola appeared to be favourably disposed towards Adeleke, suggesting that an agreement could be reached before the election.

However, a member of the ADC State Executive Committee in Osun denied that the party had entered into any alliance or secret agreement with Adeleke.

The official, who also spoke anonymously, said the party did not have a secret pact with Adeleke during the 2022 election, but rather took a collective decision to prevent Oyetola from winning.

“We didn’t have any secret pact with Adeleke in 2022. We just took a collective decision on anything that would make Oyetola not to win the election and everybody followed his mind,” the official said.

He added that while he could not rule out the possibility of the governor approaching the ADC, any decision on an alliance would have to come from the party’s leadership.

The ADC official further insisted that the party remained focused on winning the August 15 election with its candidate, Najeem Salaam.

“We are going into this election to win because we are confident that we have the people behind us,” he said.

He also dismissed reports that Salaam had stepped down from the race, describing the claim as an attempt to mislead voters.

The latest developments have further heightened political manoeuvring in Osun, with the major contenders seeking to strengthen their positions through alliances and influential endorsements ahead of the closely watched governorship election.