The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has disclosed that it worked with the Accord Party during the August 15 Osun State governorship election to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from returning to power in the state.
National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this known during an interview with Trust TV on Monday while assessing the party’s performance in the election.
The ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, polled 17,180 votes, while Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party won the election with 511,067 votes.
The APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, finished second with 444,815 votes.
Explaining why the ADC’s candidate performed below expectations, Abdullahi said the party had anticipated that a division of opposition votes could create an advantage for the APC.
He said the possibility prompted the ADC to pursue a working arrangement with the Accord Party.
“We saw the possibility of collaboration. We saw the possibility earlier on that if we decided to go full throttle, the possibility that the opposition would divide the votes and APC would take the victory was there.
“And that was why we saw the opportunity to work together. And that was what happened,” he said.
Abdullahi said the ADC did not regard its candidate’s failure to win the governorship as a defeat because the party’s primary objective was to prevent the APC from reclaiming the state.
“That is why we can confidently celebrate what is going on in Osun, because for us, victory means that APC was defeated,” he said.
He added that the party considered the outcome a success because the APC was prevented from returning to power.
“So we don’t see the fact that our governor did not emerge as an indication of defeat or failure. For us, the failure, the defeat of the APC, was a real victory for us,” Abdullahi said.
Asked whether the ADC had instructed its supporters to vote for Adeleke, the party spokesman said the two parties had “co-operated”.
“We co-operated with the Accord Party,” he said, stressing that the decision was deliberate and had the backing of the party’s leadership.
According to Abdullahi, the outcome of the Osun election had demonstrated the potential for opposition parties to defeat the ruling APC in the 2027 presidential election if they unite.
“It’s something that was deliberate, and we are glad that the outcome has justified the confidence that everyone has put in the process, and it has proved that the opposition working together can actually defeat this incumbent, no matter how awesome they are,” he said.
The ADC spokesman, however, declined to claim credit for Adeleke’s victory, saying the people of Osun State deserved the recognition.
“But I’m saying that we are not taking credit. We are saying that the credit belongs to the people of Osun State,” he said.
“The victory belongs to Ademola Adeleke. And in spite of all odds, he still managed to emerge as the governor of Osun State.”
Abdullahi also rejected suggestions that the ADC’s performance was affected by alleged resentment towards its National Secretary and former Osun governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
“That is not true. That is not true. Anybody saying that is not being charitable, because the entire leadership of the party was in Osun in the days leading to the election,” he said.
He claimed that the ADC leadership witnessed significant support for Aregbesola during its mobilisation activities ahead of the poll.
“And we saw the kind of overwhelming support that Rauf Aregbesola still controlled in Osun State,” Abdullahi added.
He also dismissed criticism of Aregbesola’s administration, including claims concerning his treatment of civil servants, describing such allegations as part of political opposition to the former governor.
Abdullahi maintained that the ADC’s decision to cooperate with Accord was strategic and was not driven by hostility towards any individual or political group.
He said the Osun experience had strengthened the argument for opposition collaboration ahead of the 2027 general election.
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