OSUN STATE, NIGERIA — The Accord Party is gaining significant momentum in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, highlighting the growing support base as a sign of the party’s strong position.
Egbedun made the remarks during a political rally in Inisa, Odo Otin Local Government Area, where over 500 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) formally defected to the Accord Party. The defectors, led by Aare Kazeem Abdulrasheed, cited internal dissatisfaction within the APC and dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership structure as reasons for their switch.
Addressing supporters, Egbedun expressed confidence in the party’s prospects, attributing this to the administration’s performance record under Governor Ademola Adeleke. “The record of success and achievement will speak, and by August 15, victory will be clear,” he said.
The Speaker also called for transparency and fairness in the electoral process, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that votes are counted accurately and the process remains free and fair. “Votes must count, and the process must remain free and fair. The electoral body must act as a truly public institution,” he added.
Egbedun encouraged existing party members to welcome the new entrants, emphasizing the importance of unity in the weeks leading up to the election. “I welcome our brothers and sisters who have joined us. Party faithful should work together with them for the progress of the state,” he said.
Abdulrasheed, speaking on behalf of the defectors, criticized the APC’s internal structure, alleging that decision-making had become concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. “We left because the party has become a sole proprietorship, controlled by one man whose leadership damaged the state,” he said. He added that the defectors were drawn to the leadership style of Governor Adeleke’s administration.
The upcoming election will see Adeleke seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform, while Bola Oyebamiji will represent the APC. Najeem Salaam is also contesting under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as voters prepare to choose the state’s next governor.
With the election approaching, the growing support for the Accord Party and the defections from the APC signal a shifting political landscape in Osun State, setting the stage for a closely contested race.
