Adeleke Breaks Silence: Why I Dumped PDP For Accord

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has explained that the prolonged crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party forced him to leave the party and contest the August 15 governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party.

According to IREPORTERONLINE, Adeleke made the disclosure during an Arise TV town hall meeting featuring candidates participating in the Osun governorship election.

The governor described his decision to leave the PDP as a difficult one, stressing that he had a strong attachment to the party but was compelled to seek an alternative platform because of the internal crisis.

Adeleke said he would have preferred to contest the election as an independent candidate if Nigeria’s electoral laws allowed such a political arrangement.

While defending his record in office, the governor highlighted several projects and initiatives his administration has undertaken in infrastructure, healthcare, education and agriculture.

He listed the construction of about 350 kilometres of roads, three flyover bridges and six dualised roads among his administration’s achievements.

Adeleke also said his government had rehabilitated more than 200 primary healthcare centres and 150 schools, established the University of Ilesa, procured 31 tractors and disbursed nearly ₦2 billion through cooperative funding programmes.

The governor maintained that the projects demonstrated the progress recorded under his administration and should form part of the basis upon which voters assess his performance.

Adeleke also raised concerns about the conduct of some police officers ahead of the election, alleging that certain members of the Nigeria Police Force had acted in a partisan manner.

He claimed that several Accord supporters had been arrested during the build-up to the election, alleging that four party leaders were detained on the day before the town hall meeting.

The governor further alleged that seven members of his party had been killed, more than 20 injured and over 60 detained. These claims had not been independently verified at the time of the report.

Adeleke said he had brought the concerns to the attention of President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, while urging security agencies to concentrate on protecting voters and maintaining peace rather than interfering with the electoral process.

He called on political actors and residents across Osun State to avoid violence and allow the election to take place peacefully.

The governor also commended President Tinubu for intervening in the controversy surrounding restrictions placed on Osun State Government accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Adeleke said he had received assurances from the President that the election would be conducted fairly.

Responding to concerns about contesting against the ruling party and its large number of governors, Adeleke said he was confident in his chances of retaining his position.

He maintained that governors from other states could support their party but would not be the people casting votes in Osun State, urging his supporters to remain focused on the election.