The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially denied claims circulating on social media that the party has “picked” Hon Najeem Salam as its flagbearer for the forthcoming Osun State gubernatorial election.
The reports, which began trending earlier this week, suggested that Salam had emerged as the ADC’s candidate for the 2026 governorship race. The claims sparked a flurry of reactions among party members, particularly supporters of another aspirant, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, some of whom accused Ogbeni Rauf of undermining the party’s internal democracy.
In response, ADC issued a statement on Wednesday, clarifying the situation. The statement, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the reports as “false and should be disregarded.”
“For the purpose of conducting the primaries to elect the party’s flagbearer for the 2026 governorship election in Osun, a timetable has been released and widely publicised,” the statement read. “All aspirants are urged to adhere strictly to the guidelines.”
Abdullahi emphasised that the party remains committed to conducting its primaries in a transparent and democratic manner. “For the avoidance of doubts, the ADC remains committed to the highest standards of internal democracy, anchored on a free, fair and transparent electoral process,” he added.
The clarification comes at a time when the Osun governorship race is beginning to attract intense attention, with several parties preparing for the 2026 elections. ADC’s prompt response is seen as an effort to reassure members and supporters that the party’s nomination process will be conducted fairly, without favouritism or pre-selection of candidates.
Party insiders note that the primaries timetable allows all aspirants adequate time to campaign within the party and present their vision for governance, ensuring a competitive and democratic selection process.
By addressing the misinformation swiftly, the ADC aims to prevent internal divisions and maintain party cohesion ahead of the primaries. Analysts believe that transparent procedures in candidate selection will be critical for the party to present a united front in the upcoming election.
The ADC’s statement underscores its commitment to internal democracy and fair competition, while also signalling to party members and the public that any unverified reports regarding candidate selection should be treated with caution.
