Osun Accord Party faction warns Adeleke against automatic tickets for defecting lawmakers
A faction of the Accord Party in Osun State has cautioned Governor Ademola Adeleke against granting automatic candidacy to six federal lawmakers who recently defected to the party, warning that
A faction of the Accord Party in Osun State has cautioned Governor Ademola Adeleke against granting automatic candidacy to six federal lawmakers who recently defected to the party, warning that such a move could undermine internal democracy and marginalize long-serving party members.
The warning comes amid reports that six members of the House of Representatives—Mahruf Adewale (Osogbo Federal Constituency), Bamidele Salam (Ede), Soji Adetunji (Ikirun), Mudashiru Alani (Iwo), Larne Oladebo (Irewolede), and Clement Olohunwa (Boluwaduro)—resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join Adeleke’s Accord Party on Tuesday.
In a statement issued under the aegis of the Broad Coalition of Concerned Political Stakeholders and Grassroots Mobilisers, the faction stressed that while fostering political cohesion is understandable, the long-term strength of any party depends on fairness, inclusion, and the confidence of both members and the electorate.
The group warned that sidelining credible aspirants who have devoted time, resources, and grassroots engagement to the party could generate discontent, weaken mobilisation, and prompt realignments of committed political actors.
The statement read in part, “Your Excellency, history consistently shows that when the political field is perceived to be uneven, grassroots morale weakens and opposition forces gain unnecessary advantage. Political strength is best preserved through open and credible competition, not closed arrangements.”
The faction’s appeal underscores ongoing debates within the Accord Party over candidate selection ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The coalition further observed that the people of Osun are politically conscious and highly sensitive to signals of exclusion or preferential treatment, noting that public goodwill, no matter how strong, must be carefully sustained through demonstrable fairness.”
“Governor Adeleke enjoys significant goodwill among the people, but goodwill must be protected with inclusive decisions. Any perception that democratic space is narrowing may carry unintended electoral implications, including for future contests,” the group stated.
The stakeholders stressed that many aspirants across the state have made heavy legitimate investments in consultation, mobilisation, and community engagement, warning that abrupt structural advantages for a few could create ripple effects capable of affecting overall political stability.
They reaffirmed their commitment to peace, maturity, and responsible political engagement across Osun State, while urging the Governor and key decision-makers to carefully weigh the long-term electoral and institutional implications of any arrangement that may appear to limit open participation.
The group concluded by calling for calm among supporters statewide, emphasizing that the moment requires wisdom, balance, and broad inclusion to sustain the prevailing political goodwill in Osun State.
