Five federal lawmakers from Osun State, all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu has endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a second term in office.
The lawmakers, who operate under the G-5 caucus, include Senators Adenigba Fadahunsi and Olubiyi Fadeyi, along with Representatives Oluwole Oke, Bimbo Ajilesoro, and Sanya Omirin. They recently defected from the PDP to the APC.
In a joint statement issued in Osogbo on Sunday, the legislators described the reports of President Tinubu’s alleged support for Adeleke as “misleading” and “baseless.” They urged the public to disregard such claims, which they said originated from members of the Accord Party.
According to the statement, President Tinubu has never held any formal political meeting with Governor Adeleke, nor has he expressed any intention to support the governor’s re-election bid. The only encounter they noted was a Sallah homage paid by Adeleke’s family in Lagos last year.
The lawmakers emphasized that the APC already has an official governorship candidate in Bola Oyebamiji, who is actively campaigning and enjoys the backing of party stakeholders. They questioned the logic of the President supporting an opposition candidate while his own party fields a contender in the same election.
They also criticized what they described as contradictory actions by Adeleke’s supporters, alleging that some have publicly criticized President Tinubu despite claims of political alignment.
The group called on APC members and voters in Osun State to remain focused on the party’s campaign and to ignore what they termed “false narratives” from opposition elements. They reaffirmed their loyalty to President Tinubu and expressed confidence that the APC would secure significant support in the upcoming August 15 governorship election.
The lawmakers concluded by urging residents to rally behind Oyebamiji as the party’s candidate in the poll.
