- Safiu Kehinde
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has claimed collaborating with the Accord Party to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the just concluded 2026 Osun Gubernatorial election.
ADC, whose candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third at the poll with 17,180 votes, held that APC’s defeat was a collective victory shared by both the party and the Accors Party.
The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the claim while speaking in an interview on Trust TV on Tuesday.
Reacting to concerns over the poor performance of the ADC at the election, Abdullahi attributed the performance to the alleged collaboration with Accord Party.
He claimed that rather than dividing the vote and give APC and advantage, the ADC decided to support Accord.
“We corporated with the Accord Party. We saw the possibility of collaboration. We saw the possibility earlier that if we decided to go full throttle, there is possibility that the opposition will divide the vote and the APC will take the victory.
“That was why we took to the opportunity ti work together and that was what happened. Anyone whi is familiar with Osun will know the role the ADC played in supporting Accord.
“That is why we can confidently celebrate what is going on in Osun because for us, victory means that the APC was defeated.
“We don’t see the fact that our governorship did not emerge as an indication of defeat or failure. The failure of the APC is the real victory for us.” He said.
Meanwhile, Abdullahi debunked claims linking the ADC’s poor performance to alleged revenge by Osun civil servants.
The ADC spokesperson maintained that Aregbesola remain a very popular political figure in Osun and the Southwest.
“That is not true. Anybody saying that is not being charitable.
“We and the entire lesdership of the party were in Osogbo few days to the election and we saw the kind of overwhelming support Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola still control in Osun.
“And these talks about civil servants salaries are what the opponents have promoted against him.
“Of course we understand the nature of the battle he had to fight in Osun and the Southwest. He remains a very popular person.
“It is not a question of retribution or punishment or anything.
“It is something that was deliberate and we were glad that the outcome has justified the confidence that everyone has put in the process and it has proved that the opposition working together will surely defeat this incumbent no matter how wholesome they are.” He said.