The spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has explained that the Osun State governor’s recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a courtesy call and should not be interpreted as a move to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Olajengbesi said Adeleke deemed it necessary to visit Tinubu as a sign of respect for the office of the President and to appreciate him for allowing democratic institutions to function during the recent Osun governorship election.

He stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja. According to him, Adeleke also used the visit to discuss the need to strengthen democratic institutions and prevent their manipulation by politicians.

“The visit of Governor Ademola Adeleke to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the proper thing to do. It is the norm; it is the standard.

“We all agree that Nigeria is a federation. We have three tiers of government — the Federal Government, the state government and, of course, the local government.

“Osun State is a sub-nation now under the Nigerian government, and we don’t intend to take Osun State out of Nigeria. So we understand, and I think the governor deemed it necessary to pay a courtesy call to Mr President as a sign of respect to the office of the President.”

Olajengbesi said Adeleke’s meeting with Tinubu was also an opportunity to commend the President for allowing democratic institutions to operate independently during the election.

He added that the governor appealed to Tinubu to support measures aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and preventing their manipulation by politicians.

“The visit of Mr Governor to Mr President is not taking the people of Osun State for granted, but the intention is to amplify the aspiration of the people of Osun State,” he said.

The campaign spokesman said Adeleke’s victory reflected the choice of Osun voters, describing the election as a tense contest that required healing and reconciliation after the poll.

He said the governor was committed to bringing the people of Osun together following the election.

“Mr President has said to Mr Governor that this is the best time for us to unite our people in Osun State. And he’s in line with the speech and the position of Mr Governor, that it is time to heal the wound of the people of Osun State,” Olajengbesi said.

He, however, categorically ruled out any possibility of Adeleke joining the APC.

“The essence of that visit has nothing to do with Governor Ademola Adeleke joining APC. It’s an impossibility. Governor Ademola Adeleke is not joining APC,” he said.

Olajengbesi said Adeleke would instead continue to work with the Federal Government to promote development in Osun State and Nigeria.

“But I can assure you that Governor Ademola Adeleke will work with the Federal Government to ensure that there’s progress in Nigeria and, of course, in Osun State,” he added.

The clarification followed speculation over Adeleke’s political future after he separately met with Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Abuja on Thursday.