ADC Collaborated With Accord to Defeat APC in Osun, Says Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has disclosed that it deliberately collaborated with the Accord Party during the August 15 Osun governorship election to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from winning the poll. The party said defeating the APC was its primary objective, even though its candidate, Najeem Salam, did not win.

Daniel Momodu · August 18, 2026 · 6

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says it collaborated with the Accord Party during the August 15 Osun State governorship election to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from reclaiming power in the state.

The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this on Monday while reacting to the party’s performance in the election.

The ADC governorship candidate, Najeem Salam, polled 17,180 votes, while incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party won with 511,067 votes. APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji came second with 444,815 votes.

Abdullahi said the party had identified the possibility of opposition votes being divided, which could have allowed the APC to win.

He explained that the ADC therefore decided to work with Accord to prevent such a scenario.

According to him, the collaboration was deliberate and had the backing of the party’s leadership.

He said the ADC did not consider its candidate’s performance a failure because its primary objective was to ensure that the APC did not return to power in Osun.

“We saw the possibility earlier on that if we decided to go full throttle, the possibility that the opposition would divide the votes and APC would take the victory was there,” he said.

Abdullahi said the outcome demonstrated that opposition parties could defeat the ruling APC when they worked together.

He, however, rejected the idea that the ADC should take credit for Adeleke’s victory, saying the people of Osun deserved the credit.

The ADC spokesman also dismissed claims that the party’s poor performance was linked to resentment against its National Secretary and former Osun governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

He said the ADC leadership had campaigned extensively in the state and witnessed the continued support Aregbesola enjoyed among residents.

Abdullahi maintained that the party’s decision to collaborate with Accord was based on a strategic political calculation rather than any personal disagreement with Aregbesola.

He said the Osun result had provided evidence that opposition parties could work together to defeat the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.