Osun Accord Candidates Back Adeleke, Pledge Support for Tinubu in 2027

National and state House of Assembly candidates of the Accord Party in Osun State have declared their support for Governor Ademola Adeleke, pledging to mobilise voters for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The candidates made their position known through the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, who serves as co-chairman of the group. He announced their commitment in a statement released in Osogbo on Tuesday. The declaration followed Adeleke's appointment as the Osun State coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election. According to the candidates, they intend to use their political structures and grassroots networks to support the governor in his political engagements and help secure votes for Tinubu in the state. Egbedun said the candidates remained committed to Adeleke's leadership and would work with him to achieve the group's electoral objectives. He added that their pledge would be translated into practical activities, including engagement with constituents, voter mobilisation and grassroots sensitisation.

Accord Candidates Promise Grassroots Mobilisation

In the statement, Egbedun said the candidates were united in their decision to support Adeleke and cooperate with him in carrying out his new political assignment. He maintained that their political structures across Osun would be mobilised to secure substantial support for Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election. The Speaker also highlighted the importance of political cooperation between the state and the Federal Government, saying collaboration could help advance the interests of Osun residents. The candidates said their commitment extended beyond a public declaration, promising to engage communities and encourage support for the President through their existing political networks. Their statement reinforces the position of Adeleke's political camp, which has continued to express support for Tinubu's re-election bid. However, the pledge represents the candidates' stated intention to mobilise voters; it does not establish how residents of Osun State will ultimately vote in 2027.

Adeleke's Appointment Triggered Fresh Political Reactions

Adeleke's inclusion in the revised APC Presidential Campaign Council has prompted fresh political developments involving Accord leaders in Osun. The Imole Campaign Council, a political organisation associated with the governor, had earlier pledged to deliver 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the council's Director-General, Olalere Oyewumi, welcomed Adeleke's appointment as the state's campaign coordinator and said Accord structures would be mobilised to support the President. The council described the appointment as recognition of Adeleke's political influence and expressed confidence that its network would contribute to Tinubu's campaign. The latest declaration by Accord's National and State House of Assembly candidates adds another layer to the mobilisation effort being organised by the governor's supporters. However, the political arrangement has also exposed differences within the party over the relationship between Adeleke's support for Tinubu and Accord's own presidential ambitions.

Accord Presidential Candidate Rejects Suggestion That Adeleke Can Direct Voters

Despite the support expressed by Adeleke's camp, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, Accord's presidential candidate for the 2027 election, has disputed the suggestion that the governor can determine how Osun residents will vote. Speaking on Channels Television's *Politics Today* on Tuesday, Olawepo-Hashim argued that Adeleke's position as governor did not automatically make him the national leader of Accord. He maintained that the party's executive leadership, rather than one elected officeholder, was responsible for its broader political direction. Olawepo-Hashim also argued that Adeleke could not compel residents of Osun to vote for Tinubu, insisting that voters would make their own decisions at the ballot box. His comments introduce an important distinction between the governor's personal political alignment, the mobilisation efforts of his supporters and the position of Accord's presidential candidate. While Adeleke and the candidates who issued the latest statement have expressed support for Tinubu, Olawepo-Hashim has maintained that the electorate should not be assumed to share that position. The competing statements indicate that support for Tinubu within Adeleke's political circle does not necessarily mean every figure associated with Accord shares the same approach to the presidential election.

Adeleke Previously Reaffirmed Support for Tinubu

Adeleke has repeatedly expressed support for Tinubu's re-election ahead of the 2027 presidential poll. In August, the governor reaffirmed his endorsement after winning re-election in Osun State, commending the President for what he described as support for a free and fair governorship election. He also maintained that he would not withdraw his endorsement, saying he had already given his word in support of Tinubu's second-term ambition. The governor's position has remained a significant feature of political discussions in Osun, particularly following his emergence on the Accord platform and his subsequent inclusion in the APC presidential campaign structure. His alignment with Tinubu has also generated questions about how the relationship will affect Accord's national ambitions, given that the party has its own presidential candidate for the 2027 election. The latest pledge by Accord's legislative candidates suggests that Adeleke's supporters intend to maintain their cooperation with him while helping advance Tinubu's campaign in Osun.

Political Alliances Ahead of the 2027 Elections

The developments in Osun reflect the political negotiations and alliances taking shape ahead of the 2027 general elections. For Adeleke's supporters, the immediate task is to convert their public declarations into grassroots mobilisation and electoral support. Their strategy, as outlined by Egbedun, will involve engaging constituents and using established political networks to promote their preferred candidates. However, the eventual outcome will depend on voters, campaign activities and the broader political circumstances as the elections approach. Olawepo-Hashim's response also highlights the limits of assuming that an endorsement by a governor or a group of political candidates automatically translates into support from the entire party or electorate. As the presidential campaign develops, the relationship between Adeleke, Accord's leadership and Tinubu's campaign council is likely to remain a subject of political attention. For now, the Osun Accord legislative candidates have pledged to support Adeleke's political engagement and mobilise votes for Tinubu, while the party's presidential candidate has maintained that the governor cannot dictate the voting decisions of Osun residents.