Dare Babalola
The spokesperson to the Governor of Osun State, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, has issued a statement refuting claims that Governor Ademola Adeleke is engaging in discussions with former Governor Rauf Aregbesola regarding a possible defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement he signed on Thursday, Rasheed urged the general public to ignore the reports he described as fake.
He wrote, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Osun State APC chairman that Governor Ademola Adeleke is negotiating with former Governor Rauf Aregbesola about joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“The report is false and the entire assertions by the opposition are mere fabrication and fake news.
“Governor Adeleke is not negotiating with former Governor Aregbesola about ADC and the governor is not joining ADC.
“The members of the public are hereby implored to ignore the fake news from the pit of hell.”
This is not the first time the governor’s media team has dismissed claims that Adeleke is negotiating to join the ADC.
In August 2025, Rasheed, while responding to media publication and enquiries, affirmed that Governor Adeleke remains in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is going to win, with wide margins, the 2026 governorship elections on the platform of the PDP.
“First of all, we, the PDP Osun, have already adopted and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, so there is no alliance with ADC.
“Secondly, Governor Adeleke has no alliance with anyone in ADC. He remains in PDP, will run in PDP, and needs no alliance with ADC to win with a wide margin in 2026.
“The Osun electorate supports Governor Adeleke because of his impressive performance since he came to office. That good work is still ongoing and Osun people are committed to sustaining the delivery of good governance by re-electing Governor Adeleke in 2026”, the spokesperson said in August.
