Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, said he has no deal to share legislative or local government seats in the state with the All Progressives Congress.

Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, said the clarification became necessary after social media claims about his relationship with the Presidency.

The reports alleged that a deal between him and the Presidency ahead of the 2027 general elections included sharing of positions.

According to the viral reports, local government positions as well as Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly seats to be contested in the 2027 polls were said to have been shared between Osun Accord and the state APC.

The governor, who reaffirmed his commitment to the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, explained that the negotiation for the resolution of the local government crisis was aimed at protecting the interests of both the APC chairmen and the elected PDP chairmen and councillors.

He described reports of an office-sharing arrangement as “mere fabrication and fake news.”

The statement further read, “As the governor of all Osun indigenes and residents, we are working to resolve the local government matter by ensuring that all interests are protected and cared for.

“As of now, all stakeholders agree that restoring grassroots governance is a condition for our successful campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.”

While assuring that the local government crisis will be resolved before the end of the year, the governor said he did not enter into any agreement to share legislative seats with Osun APC as rumoured, declaring that “what unites the coalition partners is only the presidential election.

“As I said while inaugurating the Presidential Campaign Council, the coalition is targeted at the presidential election. Partners agreed to join hands to ensure our dear President is re-elected. All other legislative positions are open for competition. I will work and campaign for Accord candidates for Senate, House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly.

“I urge all political parties to campaign for their candidates as I will do for Accord candidates. We have no deal on the National Assembly and the State Assembly elections. All our candidates will face the electorate, who have the final say.”

The PUNCH earlier reported that some prominent leaders of the APC in Osun State, stayed away from the inauguration of the 344-member campaign council tasked with leading President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the state ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, however, led other APC chieftains to the event, where Governor Ademola Adeleke inaugurated the council.

APC leaders present included the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; a former National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore; two former Osun deputy governors, Titi Laoye-Ponle and Sooko Lekan Adewoyin; Senator Babajide Omoworare; and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.

Other party leaders in attendance were the Osun Central Senatorial Leader of the APC, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Afolabi; and former Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Prof. Olu Aina, among others.