The Osun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has distanced itself from reports suggesting that former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr Najeem Salaam, has been adopted as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2026 election.
The party clarified its position in a statement issued on Monday by Comrade Ekundayo Olatunde, Secretary of the Isokan Group within Osun ADC.
He urged residents of the state to ignore the circulating report, describing it as completely untrue.
“As of the time of issuing this clarification, the Osun ADC has not held its gubernatorial primary election,” the statement said. “Any claim suggesting that a candidate has already been endorsed is false.”
Olatunde explained that the party would not accept any attempt to impose a candidate from outside the state, calling the alleged decision “totalitarian, dictatorial and disrespectful of internal democracy.”
He added that party members would soon address the matter through national and state organs to reaffirm their commitment to due process.
“The party has not yet conducted its primary election, let alone endorsed anyone. Nobody has adopted Salaam. The purported endorsement is misleading,” he said.
The ADC chieftain also expressed displeasure over the online report that triggered the controversy, noting that it had created tension among members.
“The publication has generated uproar, disbelief and disaffection among our members in Osun.”
“The so-called decision came from only one faction out of the three that make up the party in the state,’ he said.
He further explained that the Osun ADC is made up of members drawn from several political blocs.
“For clarity, ADC is a coalition of political interests nationwide. Here in Osun, members include those from the PDP known as Isokan, APC members under the Omoluabi group and the original ADC structure,” he stated.
Olatunde stressed that the party does not belong to any individual or group and concluded that the ADC remains committed to an open, fair and credible nomination process ahead of the 2026 poll.
