The Ogun State Chairman of the Accord Party, Hon. Michael Rotimi Oke, has warned that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke could face disciplinary action over his reported appointment as coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in Osun State if the party establishes that his involvement violates its constitution or official decisions.
Oke, however, cautioned against rushing to conclusions, stressing that the appointment alone does not automatically amount to anti-party activity. He said the circumstances surrounding Adeleke’s involvement must be investigated before the party can determine whether disciplinary measures are justified.
The party chairman made the clarification in an interview with Vanguard, explaining that Accord’s national leadership had yet to investigate the matter formally or hear directly from the governor.
The development has opened a fresh debate over party loyalty, cross-party political cooperation and the limits of individual political choices as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Accord Explains Conditions for Possible Sanctions
Oke said the Accord Party’s constitution contains provisions addressing anti-party activities and misconduct, adding that Articles 13, 14 and 20 outline members’ obligations and provide a framework for disciplinary action.
According to him, the party must establish whether Adeleke’s reported campaign role conflicts with its constitution, political position or decisions taken by its authorised organs.
He distinguished between cooperation with the President on matters of national development and active participation in a campaign that could undermine the interests of the governor’s political party.
Oke maintained that working with Tinubu to attract federal projects and promote development in Osun State would not, by itself, necessarily constitute anti-party activity.
However, he warned that formally endorsing or actively campaigning for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate could raise disciplinary questions if Accord adopts a different candidate or issues a contrary directive.
The distinction is significant because political cooperation between leaders belonging to different parties does not automatically establish that either party has changed its official position.
Any disciplinary decision, Oke insisted, must be grounded in the party’s rules and the findings of an appropriate investigation.
Adeleke’s Appointment Raises Questions About Party Loyalty
Adeleke’s reported appointment as the Osun State coordinator of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign has attracted attention because the governor won re-election in August 2026 on the platform of Accord.
The APC’s presidential campaign structure named Adeleke to coordinate support for Tinubu in Osun, despite the governor’s membership of a different political party.
The appointment followed Adeleke’s public expressions of support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition. The governor has previously explained that his position was influenced by the President’s regional identity and the importance of completing major federal infrastructure projects in the South-West.
Adeleke has also indicated his willingness to work with politicians across party lines in support of the President’s re-election bid.
The arrangement has nevertheless raised concerns among some Accord members about the party’s political identity and how its candidates will be expected to mobilise support during the 2027 elections.
Oke said the party’s national leadership first learnt of the reported appointment through media reports and had not issued a definitive position on the matter at the time of his interview.
He stressed that the governor’s actions should be assessed within the context of the party’s constitution and any formally adopted political decisions.
Personal Relationship With Tinubu Under Scrutiny
Oke suggested that Adeleke’s relationship with Tinubu may have influenced his acceptance of the campaign appointment.
He referred to the governor’s description of the President as his father during the inauguration of the campaign committee in Abuja, interpreting the remark as an indication of a personal relationship between the two political figures.
However, Oke maintained that personal relationships should not determine the official position of a political party.
He argued that the views of individual leaders must be distinguished from decisions made by authorised party organs.
The chairman also emphasised that Adeleke should not be condemned before the party has examined the circumstances surrounding his appointment and heard his explanation.
His position reflects the need to balance internal party discipline with the political independence of elected officials, particularly when cooperation with the Federal Government could have implications for development projects and relations between different levels of government.
Accord’s Political Identity Faces a Critical Test
The controversy has exposed a broader question confronting Accord as it prepares for the 2027 general elections: how can the party maintain a distinct political identity while some of its prominent members support a presidential candidate from another party?
For a political party, internal cohesion is important because candidates contesting elections under its platform often depend on coordinated mobilisation, campaign resources and the support of party structures.
If leading figures adopt conflicting political positions without a clearly defined party policy, disagreements could emerge over which candidates members should support and how campaign activities should be organised.
Oke warned that uncertainty surrounding Adeleke’s political alignment could affect confidence among party members and create divisions between those who support the governor’s decision and those demanding disciplinary action.
Nevertheless, the situation cannot be resolved simply by assuming that cross-party cooperation is inherently a violation of party rules. The relevant questions include whether Accord has formally adopted a presidential candidate, whether it has issued binding directives on the matter and whether Adeleke’s conduct breaches any applicable provision of its constitution.
These issues require clarification from the party’s national leadership.
What the Dispute Means for the 2027 Elections
The dispute could have implications for Accord’s electoral strategy, particularly in Osun State, where the party must balance the governor’s political influence with the interests of its legislative candidates.
Political parties generally rely on a degree of coordination between their candidates and leaders to sustain a common message during elections. Disagreements over presidential support could complicate that coordination if party members receive conflicting instructions.
However, the practical consequences will depend on the decisions Accord ultimately takes and whether its members accept the resulting political arrangement.
The party could clarify its position through a formal resolution, establish guidelines for cooperation with other parties or initiate disciplinary proceedings if it determines that a member has breached its rules.
Any action against Adeleke would also need to follow the applicable procedures to ensure that he receives a fair hearing.
At the same time, the governor’s supporters may argue that maintaining a constructive relationship with the Federal Government is necessary to secure infrastructure investment and other development opportunities for Osun State.
The central challenge is therefore to reconcile the interests of the state with the party’s institutional responsibilities and electoral objectives.
The warning by Accord’s Ogun State Chairman, Michael Rotimi Oke, has brought renewed attention to the political implications of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s reported appointment as coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign in Osun State.
Although Oke said the governor could face disciplinary action if an investigation establishes a breach of party rules, he stressed that the appointment alone does not prove anti-party activity.
The party’s national leadership will need to clarify its position, determine the scope of its existing directives and establish whether Adeleke’s involvement conflicts with its constitution or officially adopted political decisions.
Ultimately, the outcome could shape Accord’s internal cohesion, its relationship with the governor and its strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For now, possible sanctions remain conditional. No conclusion should be drawn that Adeleke has committed an offence under the party’s constitution until the relevant facts have been examined and the party has made a formal determination.
By Joseph Iyaji
Akahi News
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