ADC Reveals Strategic Collaboration with Accord Party to Defeat APC in Osun Governorship Election - Newstrends
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ADC Reveals Strategic Collaboration with Accord Party to Defeat APC in Osun Governorship Election

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ADC Reveals Strategic Collaboration with Accord Party to Defeat APC in Osun Governorship Election
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi

ADC Reveals Strategic Collaboration with Accord Party to Defeat APC in Osun Governorship Election

The African Democratic Congress has disclosed that it entered into a deliberate electoral collaboration with the Accord Party during the August 15 Osun State governorship election specifically to prevent the All Progressives Congress from reclaiming power in the state. The revelation comes as the party’s national publicity secretary defended its unexpectedly low vote tally, arguing that the primary objective was not victory for its own candidate but the defeat of the APC. The ADC’s governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, polled 17,180 votes in the election, coming a distant third behind incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, who won with 511,067 votes, and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes. Despite the wide margin, the ADC has framed its performance as a strategic success rather than an electoral failure, setting the stage for renewed discussions about opposition alliances ahead of the 2027 general election.

Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, made the disclosure on Monday during an interview with Trust TV while evaluating the party’s performance in the Osun election. He explained that the party had identified early on that a division of opposition votes could hand victory to the APC, prompting discussions about working with the Accord Party. Abdullahi stated that the party saw the possibility of collaboration early enough, recognizing that if they decided to go full throttle, the opposition would divide the votes and the APC would take the victory. He said this was why they saw the opportunity to work together, and that was exactly what happened. The ADC spokesperson said the party did not regard its candidate’s low vote tally as a failure, arguing that its broader objective was to prevent the APC from returning to power in Osun State. He explained that this was why they could confidently celebrate what was going on in Osun, because for them, victory meant that the APC was defeated. He added that they did not see the fact that their governorship candidate did not emerge as an occasion of defeat or failure, insisting that the failure and defeat of the APC was a real victory for them.

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When asked whether the ADC had directed its supporters to vote for Adeleke, Abdullahi responded that the party cooperated with the Accord Party. He added that the decision had the backing of the ADC leadership and was part of a deliberate strategy to prevent the APC from reclaiming the state. Abdullahi said the outcome of the Osun election demonstrated the potential strength of opposition parties if they could work together ahead of the 2027 general election. He described the collaboration as something that was deliberate, and expressed gladness that the outcome had justified the confidence that everyone had put in the process. He said it had proved that the opposition working together could actually defeat the incumbent, no matter how awesome they were. However, the ADC spokesperson rejected the idea that the party should take sole credit for Adeleke’s victory, stressing that the electorate ultimately determined the result. He said that when he said they were not taking credit, he meant that the credit belonged to the people of Osun State. He added that the victory belonged to Ademola Adeleke, who, in spite of all odds, still managed to emerge as the governor of Osun State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Governor Ademola Adeleke winner of the August 15, 2026 election after he secured 511,067 votes, defeating his closest rival, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, scored 17,180 votes, coming a distant third on the ballot. Adeleke won 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji carried the remaining 11 councils. The victory gives Adeleke a second four-year term, making him only the second governor in Osun State’s history to win re-election, after former governor Rauf Aregbesola. The final tally gave Adeleke a winning margin of 66,252 votes over Oyebamiji. Abdullahi also dismissed claims that the party’s poor performance was linked to resentment against its national secretary and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola. He described such claims as untrue and uncharitable, noting that the entire leadership of the party was in Osun in the days leading to the election and witnessed the kind of overwhelming support that Aregbesola still controlled in Osun State. The ADC spokesman described claims about Aregbesola’s treatment of civil servants while in office as oppositionality, saying Aregbesola remained popular in the state. He maintained that the ADC’s decision to collaborate with Accord was deliberate and not motivated by resentment or a desire to punish any political actor.

The disclosure offers insight into the opposition strategy that shaped the Osun election and could fuel renewed discussions about the possibility of a broader opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Abdullahi said the cooperation with Accord was a deliberate decision whose outcome, he said, had validated the strategy and proved that opposition parties working together could defeat the ruling APC, no matter how awesome they are. At the time of the reports, neither the Accord Party nor Governor Ademola Adeleke had confirmed the opposition alliance in the Osun governorship election. The APC, which recorded its highest-ever vote total in Osun at 444,815 votes, said it was reviewing the results and may explore legal options under the Electoral Act. The election outcome and the ADC’s disclosure have therefore set the stage for intense political realignments as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election, with opposition parties exploring various strategies to challenge the ruling APC at the national level.

ADC Reveals Strategic Collaboration with Accord Party to Defeat APC in Osun Governorship Election

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Osun guber: APC rejects Adeleke’s victory, begins audit of INEC results

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August 18, 2026

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Osun guber: APC rejects Adeleke’s victory, begins audit of INEC results

Osun guber: APC rejects Adeleke’s victory, begins audit of INEC results

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the result of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke did not secure the highest number of valid votes cast in the poll.

The APC’s position was disclosed by the Director-General of its Osun governorship campaign, Oluwole Oke, who said the party would not congratulate Adeleke until it completed its review of the election results and other relevant materials.

Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Monday, Oke said the APC disagreed with the declaration of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and had commenced an audit of the election to determine its next step.

“We do not agree with the declaration of INEC. That’s our position for now. We believe he did not score the highest valid votes,” Oke said.

The APC campaign chief said the party would not be pressured into accepting the outcome before completing its assessment of the election process.

According to him, the review is intended to establish the party’s position based on the available election documents rather than on political pressure or the declaration already made by INEC.

“And like I’ve told you that what we are doing, even for future, for records, is to conduct a thorough review of the entire process and then form our opinion.

“We won’t be under any sort of pressure to easily reach out to congratulate Senator Ademola Adeleke,” Oke added. (Arise News)

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INEC declared Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the Accord Party, winner of the 2026 Osun governorship election after he polled 511,067 votes.

The APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, came second with 444,815 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, secured 17,180 votes.

Based on the figures announced by INEC, Adeleke defeated Oyebamiji by 66,252 votes and secured victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas. Oyebamiji won the remaining 11 councils. (Premium Times Nigeria)

The result gave Adeleke a second term in office, but the APC has now indicated that the party is not prepared to accept the declaration without first scrutinising the results and the conduct of the election.

Oke said the APC had already commenced an audit of the Osun election, with party agents directed to submit copies of key electoral documents for examination.

“We have embarked on an audit process. We have asked all our party agents to submit copies of Forms EC8A, B, and C to our secretariat for review. We need to inspect the materials,” he said. (The Sun Nigeria)

The documents include the polling-unit result forms and subsequent collation documents. The APC is expected to compare the figures recorded at the different stages of collation with the final figures announced by INEC.

The review is also expected to examine the conduct of the election, including events before, during and after voting, as well as compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act and other applicable electoral regulations.

Oke indicated that the APC’s eventual position would depend on what emerges from the audit. If the party identifies grounds to challenge the result, it could pursue the available legal channels.

He noted that the electoral process does not necessarily end with INEC’s declaration, pointing to the election tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court as stages through which an election dispute may progress where the relevant legal conditions are met.

“Until we do that and form our opinion, we won’t be able to go further to say anything on this,” Oke said.

The APC’s position differs from that of President Bola Tinubu, who congratulated Adeleke following INEC’s declaration. Oke stressed that the campaign organisation’s assessment was based on its own review of events and materials from the field. (Osun Defender)

The disagreement comes after a closely contested election in which Adeleke and Oyebamiji dominated the results across the state. While Adeleke secured the higher statewide vote total and won 19 local government areas, the APC candidate won 11 councils.

For now, INEC’s declaration remains the official result of the Osun governorship election, with Adeleke recognised as the winner. The APC has not, however, indicated that it has already filed an election petition. Instead, the party says it is first conducting an audit before deciding whether further action is necessary. (Premium Times Nigeria)

The development means the post-election contest in Osun could shift from political campaigns to a detailed examination of result sheets and other election records, with the APC expected to announce its next move after completing the review.

Osun guber: APC rejects Adeleke’s victory, begins audit of INEC results

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Davido Quietly Removes Tweet Cautioning Adeleke on Supporting Tinubu

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August 17, 2026

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Davido Quietly Removes Tweet Cautioning Adeleke on Supporting Tinubu
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Afrobeats star David Adeleke popularly known as Davido

Davido Quietly Removes Tweet Cautioning Adeleke on Supporting Tinubu

Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has deleted a social media post in which he publicly warned his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, against supporting any presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

The now-deleted post, which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, August 15, 2026, read: “No more supporting any presidential candidate @AAdeleke_01 make we Dey our Dey!!!” The message came as voting and result collation were taking place in Osun State, where Governor Adeleke was seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party. Checks by multiple news outlets confirmed that the post was taken down shortly after it went live, but not before it had generated significant attention online. A separate deleted message aimed at President Bola Tinubu, which read “U no try @officialABAT,” was also reportedly removed.

The deletion of both posts has raised eyebrows among political observers, given Governor Adeleke’s public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. During his acceptance speech after being declared winner of the Osun governorship election, Adeleke reaffirmed his support for Tinubu, stating: “At this point, I must deeply appreciate Mr President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election. Mr President is a son of Osun State, and I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.” Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, welcomed the governor’s renewed endorsement, describing Adeleke as a “man of integrity and honour” and stating: “Agreement is agreement.” However, Adeleke’s Imole Campaign Council has rejected suggestions that the governor’s endorsement of Tinubu was the product of a political agreement or bargain, insisting that his support was based on Tinubu’s performance and reforms.

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The deleted posts come amid Davido’s recent statements distancing himself from Nigerian politics. In subsequent posts on X, the singer described Nigerian politics as “evil” and declared he does not want to be a part of it. He wrote: “I brought no one! No one defended me! I backed my family on my own!! You guys are ruthless and disgusting! Eeewwww! I have done my job! Nigerian politics is evil AND I DON’T WANT TO BE A PART OF IT TILL GOD HELPS US!” Davido has previously stated he would only consider running for political office if Nigeria guarantees free, fair, and credible elections. Despite his active role in mobilising youth support for his uncle’s campaign, he has consistently maintained that his political involvement has been driven by family loyalty rather than a broader political ambition.

Governor Adeleke ultimately won the election, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, by 66,252 votes. The governor recorded 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, while ADC candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes. The final figures showed that Adeleke secured victories in 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11. The election had 1,010,684 accredited voters from 2,339,544 registered voters, with 1,005,800 votes cast. INEC recorded 985,097 valid votes and 20,721 rejected ballots.

The election was marked by reports of gunshots, alleged ballot-box snatching, and arrests. The Osun State Police Command announced the arrest of a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, along with 146 suspected electoral mercenaries found at his residence. More than 200 Permanent Voter Cards were recovered during the operation. In a separate operation, police arrested 33 suspected electoral mercenaries in Ede. Davido had been actively following events and expressing concerns about happenings around the poll and the collation of results. However, the governor’s victory did not lead to any change in his position on the 2027 presidential election. Adeleke also disclosed that Tinubu personally contacted him after his victory and expressed appreciation for the President’s intervention on issues surrounding the election, including the unfreezing of the state government’s account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the poll.

Davido Quietly Removes Tweet Cautioning Adeleke on Supporting Tinubu

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BREAKING: Edo Assembly leadership shake-up: Agbebaku out, Idaiyi emerges new Speaker

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August 17, 2026

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BREAKING: Edo Assembly leadership shake-up: Agbebaku out, Idaiyi emerges new Speaker
Hon Yekini Idiaye - New Speaker and Rt Hon Blessing Agbebaku

BREAKING: Edo Assembly leadership shake-up: Agbebaku out, Idaiyi emerges new Speaker

The Edo State House of Assembly has a new Speaker following the resignation of Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, who stepped down on Monday, August 17, 2026, amid reports of an impeachment plot against him. Hon. Yekini Idaiyi (also spelled Idiaye), the lawmaker representing Akoko Edo I Constituency, was swiftly nominated and sworn in as the new Speaker during the plenary session that followed Agbebaku’s exit.

The leadership change was formally announced when Deputy Speaker Osamwonye Atu, who presided over the session, informed the House that Agbebaku’s resignation letter had been received. The resignation was confirmed by Agbebaku’s media aide, Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, via a Facebook post that read, “EDO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RT HON CHIEF BLESSING AGBEBAKU RESIGNS.” Agbebaku’s decision to step down came amid reports of growing internal tension and moves by some lawmakers to impeach him. The former Speaker had led the 8th Assembly since June 2023, having been elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2025. His tenure was marked by political turbulence, including the suspension of three lawmakers in May 2024 over an alleged impeachment plot and recent security concerns that postponed the Assembly’s first sitting of 2026.

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Following the announcement of Agbebaku’s resignation, the lawmaker representing Esan South East Constituency, Sunday Ojiezele, nominated Yekini Idaiyi for the position of Speaker. The nomination was seconded by Hon. Eric Okaka, representing Owan East Constituency. The Clerk of the House subsequently administered the oath of office on Idaiyi, who then assumed leadership of the House. The House also approved a letter from the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominating new principal officers, including Hon. Sunday Ojiezele as Majority Leader, Hon. Ojie Inegbebor as Deputy Majority Leader, and Hon. Natasha Osawaru as Minority Leader, nominated by the National Democratic Congress.

Hon. Yekini Idaiyi is a ranking lawmaker with prior leadership experience in the Edo Assembly. He previously served as Deputy Speaker from June 2019 until August 2020, when he was impeached following political disagreements surrounding his support for the APC governorship candidate during the 2020 Edo governorship election. His emergence as Speaker marks a return to the Assembly’s leadership after several years, and he is expected to steer the legislative house through this period of transition and political realignment.

BREAKING: Edo Assembly leadership shake-up: Agbebaku out, Idaiyi emerges new Speaker

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