Visit To Tinubu: Adeleke Not Planning To Join APC, Says Campaign Spokesman

Following the visit of the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has disclosed that the Governor is not planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, Olajengbesi said Adeleke’s meeting with President Tinubu was just a courtesy visit and should not be interpreted as an indication of plans to join the President’s party.

He described the visit as “the norm and proper thing to do,” adding that the Governor considered it appropriate to visit President Tinubu following his re-election and for creating the enabling environment for the success of the governorship election.

“The visit of Governor Ademola Adeleke to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the proper thing to do. It is the norm; it is the standard. The visit of Mr Governor to Mr President is not taking the people of Osun State for granted, but the intention is to amplify the aspiration of the people of Osun State,” he said.

Olajengbesi said Governor Adeleke used the visit to appealed to the President to support measures that would strengthen democratic institutions and prevent their manipulation by political actors.

Speaking on what the discussions were about, Olajengbesi said, “Mr President said to Mr Governor that this is the best time for us to unite our people in Osun State, and is in line with the speech and the position of Mr Governor, that it is time to heal the wound of the people of Osun State.

“The essence of that visit has nothing to do with Governor Ademola Adeleke joining APC. Governor Ademola Adeleke is not joining APC,” he said.

Also speaking earlier, the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) gave the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the police authorities seven days ultimatum to act on the alleged incitement and Killings during the election in Osun.

COPA Coordinator, Ajibola Bello, who led the team of other members, said the ultimatum has become imperative as the issues in Osun goes beyond political parties, election results and individual political interests.

“It concerns the sanctity of human life, the integrity of our electoral system and the fundamental principle that nobody is above the law.”

According to him, “During the Governorship Election certain political actors were captured on video making statements which threatened political opponents, sought to prevent citizens from exercising their franchise and, in one particularly disturbing instance, expressly called for the killing of members of a political party.”

Bello said even though the election has ended, “but criminal responsibility does not end with an election” and called on the authorities to swing into action and bring those involved to justice.