African Democratic Congress chieftain Dele Momodu has publicly endorsed Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term despite belonging to the opposition ADC, describing support for the governor as the most practical strategy ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Momodu explained his decision in a statement on Tuesday, saying opposition parties must put aside individual interests and unite behind Adeleke to prevent the APC from retaining control of the state.
The former presidential aspirant stressed that he remained a proud member of the ADC but said his membership should not prevent him from supporting what he considers the broader interest of the opposition in Osun.
He said he joined the ADC because prominent opposition figures had initially sought to create a broad coalition capable of challenging the APC at the national level.
Momodu said he had hoped the coalition would successfully bring together major opposition forces but acknowledged that the arrangement did not eventually materialise as originally envisaged.
Despite the setback, he said he had not abandoned his belief that Nigerians could unite politically against the ruling APC.
He argued that the situation in Osun required opposition parties to set aside political differences and rally behind Adeleke as the candidate with the strongest chance of defeating the APC.
According to Momodu, refusing to recognise the political reality in the state and insisting on separate opposition candidacies would be counterproductive.
He said the decision to support Adeleke was not based on friendship or family connections but on his assessment of the governor's political strength and performance.
Momodu described Adeleke as a highly popular politician who, in his view, could even defeat President Bola Tinubu in a popularity contest.
He also praised Adeleke's administration, describing the governor as one of Nigeria's strongest-performing governors across several areas of governance.
Among the areas he highlighted were infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers' welfare, labour relations, internally generated revenue, agriculture, commerce, culture, women empowerment and youth integration.
Momodu's endorsement comes as political parties and influential figures intensify their campaigns ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.
The election has attracted significant attention because of the wider political implications surrounding the contest and the competing efforts by opposition groups to challenge the APC.
The ADC has emerged as one of the platforms seeking to consolidate opposition support, but Momodu's decision to publicly back an Accord Party candidate illustrates the difficulty of maintaining a single opposition position at the state level.
Momodu warned that opposition parties could weaken their chances by allowing political differences to create openings for the APC.
He urged political actors to recognise the importance of presenting a united front rather than allowing individual ambitions to determine the direction of the contest.
The ADC chieftain also warned against creating circumstances that could provide the ruling party with what he described as an excuse to manipulate the election.
He said the opposition must act strategically to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that voters are allowed to determine the outcome.
His endorsement places him in an unusual position ahead of the election, supporting a candidate from another opposition party while maintaining his membership of the ADC.
The development could further fuel discussions about the future of opposition alliances in Osun and nationally as political actors prepare for the 2027 general elections.
For Adeleke, the backing provides another high-profile endorsement as he seeks to secure a second term in office.
For the opposition, however, Momodu's position highlights the broader challenge of balancing party loyalty with strategic alliances in an increasingly competitive political environment.
With the Osun election approaching, the ability of opposition parties to coordinate their supporters could prove crucial to the final outcome.