LAGOS, Nigeria — A political dispute has emerged within Nigeria's Accord Party following the appointment of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as the state coordinator of President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election campaign, prompting party leaders to question his political allegiance.

Two Accord leaders in Lagos State, Oke Sewedo of the Lagos West Senatorial District and the party's state chairman, Oladeji Oluwatosin, raised their concerns in an open letter addressed to Adeleke and the party's national leadership.

The letter, issued under the banner of Concerned Leaders of Accord, Lagos State, questioned the implications of the governor's involvement in the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while remaining a member of Accord.

The controversy follows the inclusion of Adeleke in the APC's revised Presidential Campaign Council, announced on Tuesday, October 13, ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.

Adeleke secured re-election as Osun State governor in August 2026 on the platform of Accord after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), making his political relationship with the APC a subject of growing attention.

The Lagos party leaders acknowledged the significance of Adeleke's electoral victory, describing it as an important achievement that had strengthened Accord's standing as an emerging political platform.

However, they argued that his new campaign responsibilities raised legitimate questions about his commitment to the party and its candidates.

The leaders questioned how a sitting governor elected on Accord's platform could coordinate the presidential campaign of a candidate from a rival political party while Accord was preparing to contest the same election.

They warned that the arrangement could weaken the party's prospects in Osun State, particularly among candidates seeking seats in the National Assembly and other legislative positions.

According to the signatories, the governor's political influence and established campaign network could prove significant to Accord candidates, making any uncertainty surrounding his allegiance a matter of concern.

They also warned that conflicting political signals could create confusion among party members, grassroots supporters and voters who had invested their resources and efforts in building Accord's political structure.

The leaders stressed that their intervention was not motivated by personal hostility towards the governor but by concerns about internal party accountability and the protection of members' electoral interests.

They urged Adeleke to publicly clarify whether he remained committed to Accord or intended to pursue a different political direction.

If he remained loyal to the party, they argued, he should reconsider his involvement in coordinating Tinubu's presidential campaign and demonstrate continued support for Accord's electoral objectives.

Alternatively, they said any decision to change political allegiance should be communicated openly and handled in accordance with the party's constitution and applicable electoral laws.

The Lagos leaders also called on Accord's national leadership to intervene promptly by engaging Adeleke, explaining the constitutional implications of his campaign role and reassuring members that the party's electoral interests would be protected.

They expressed particular concern about the potential impact on Accord's presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, whose campaign would require a coordinated national structure ahead of the election.

The controversy has also drawn attention from Olawepo-Hashim, who publicly rejected suggestions that Adeleke's support for Tinubu would determine the political choices of Osun voters.

Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today on Tuesday, the Accord presidential candidate argued that the governor's position did not give him authority to dictate how the people of Osun should vote in the presidential election.

Adeleke had previously expressed support for Tinubu's re-election, with the Osun State Government confirming his endorsement in March 2026.

At the time, the governor maintained that his support for the president did not prevent him from strengthening Accord's political structures across Osun State.

His subsequent inclusion in the APC's presidential campaign leadership has nevertheless intensified questions about the relationship between personal political alliances and party membership.

The development illustrates the increasingly complex political alignments emerging ahead of the 2027 elections, as politicians across party lines establish alliances around presidential and legislative contests.

For Accord, the dispute raises questions about how the party intends to maintain internal cohesion while accommodating members who may support presidential candidates from other political platforms.

The Lagos leaders maintained that their appeal was intended to protect the party's unity and electoral future rather than provoke confrontation or interfere with governance in Osun State.

They urged the national leadership to address the concerns transparently and ensure that party members and candidates received clear guidance about the governor's political position.

As preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify, Adeleke's role in Tinubu's campaign is likely to remain a subject of discussion within Accord and among political stakeholders in Osun State.

The central question for the party is whether the governor's support for a presidential candidate outside Accord can coexist with his continued membership and responsibilities to the political platform on which he secured re-election.

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