By Opeyemi Adelakun
Two leaders of the Accord Party in Lagos State have asked Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to clarify his loyalty to the party following reports that he has been appointed coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in Osun.
The leaders, Oke Sewedo, a party chieftain in Lagos West Senatorial District, and Lagos State chairman Oladeji Oluwatosin, made the demand in an open letter jointly signed under the aegis of Concerned Leaders of Accord, Lagos State.
They argued that Adeleke’s reported involvement in coordinating the presidential campaign of a candidate from another party had raised questions about his commitment to Accord and could affect the electoral prospects of its candidates.
Adeleke won the Osun governorship election on the platform of Accord, a development the authors described as a significant milestone for the party and its members.
However, they questioned how a governor elected on Accord’s platform could coordinate the presidential campaign of Tinubu, who belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Accord prepares its candidates for the 2027 general elections.
“The concern is straightforward: how can a sitting governor elected under Accord simultaneously coordinate the presidential campaign of a candidate belonging to another political party, while Accord itself is preparing its candidates and supporters for the same general election?” the letter stated.
The leaders warned that the reported appointment could weaken Accord’s chances in Osun, particularly for candidates seeking election to the Senate, House of Representatives and other legislative positions.
They also expressed concern that the situation could create confusion among party members and voters, potentially undermining confidence in the party’s ability to protect the interests of candidates contesting under its platform.
“These concerns are not accusations of wrongdoing. They are legitimate political questions that deserve a clear response from both the governor and the party leadership,” they said.
The letter stressed that their intervention was not motivated by personal hostility towards Adeleke but by concerns about accountability to the political platform through which he secured his mandate.
The leaders urged the governor to reconsider his reported role in Tinubu’s campaign if he remained committed to Accord.
“If your political allegiance has genuinely shifted elsewhere, we respectfully urge you to make your position clear and take the appropriate steps in accordance with the party’s constitution and applicable law, rather than leave members and candidates in a state of uncertainty,” they said.
They also called on Accord’s national leadership to issue a formal statement explaining the implications of Adeleke’s reported appointment and engage him directly to obtain an unequivocal clarification of his political allegiance.
The party leadership was further urged to explain the relevant provisions of its constitution and the procedures available where a member’s political activities appear inconsistent with the party’s interests.
The Lagos leaders said the party must protect its candidates across the country, particularly those contesting legislative seats in Osun, and reassure members that their efforts and contributions would not be disregarded.
They also expressed concern that uncertainty among senior party figures could weaken grassroots mobilisation, discourage members and undermine Accord’s credibility as an alternative political platform.
The letter specifically referenced Accord’s presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, arguing that the party needed a coherent structure in which its leaders, members and candidates could work towards the 2027 elections.
“We are not asking for political hostility. We are asking for clarity. We are not seeking personal confrontation. We are seeking accountability to the political platform under which you were elected,” the letter stated.
The development follows reports that Adeleke had declared support for Tinubu’s re-election bid. The allegations and concerns raised by the Lagos Accord leaders centre on the implications of the governor’s reported role for the party’s electoral interests.
The letter urged both Adeleke and the party’s national leadership to resolve the issue transparently and in accordance with due process, insisting that the objective was to protect Accord’s unity and electoral future rather than disrupt governance in Osun.
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