Adeleke never rejected Tinubu’s APC invitation, aide replies Fadahunsi

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, has dismissed claims by the Senator representing Osun East, Adenigba Fadahunsi, that the governor rejected an invitation from President Bola Tinubu to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Rasheed, in a statement issued in Osogbo on Thursday, maintained that Adeleke did not turn down any invitation from the President but was prevented from joining the APC by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, and leaders of the Osun APC.

The governor’s aide was reacting to comments reportedly made by Fadahunsi during a recent interview in which the senator alleged that Adeleke declined repeated overtures from President Tinubu in 2025.

According to Rasheed, events surrounding the political discussions between the Presidency and the governor were well known to the public and could not be rewritten.

“Governor Adeleke responded to the invitation of Mr President. He actually met the President with his family members. But the process was truncated by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola. The public is fully aware of the development. Senator Fadahunsi cannot twist or falsify history,” he said.

Rasheed added that despite the failed move, Adeleke went ahead to endorse the re-election of President Tinubu while still in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has maintained that position after joining the Accord Party.

“After he was blocked, the governor moved ahead to endorse the re-election of Mr President, first while he was in the PDP and now that he is in the Accord Party. Governor Adeleke only recently listed cogent reasons why he endorsed Mr President,” he added.

Rasheed, who described other personal attacks on the governor by the senator as immaterial, insisted that Adeleke continued to enjoy widespread support across Osun State because of his administration’s performance, saying no amount of historical falsification could change that reality.