Osun poll: APC Slams Adeleke, says Tinubu not behind his political woes

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to focus on defending his administration instead of blaming President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the ruling party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The party made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while reacting to Adeleke’s recent claims about insecurity and alleged plans to influence the outcome of the election. According to the APC, the governor should present his achievements to the people and allow them to decide whether he deserves another term.

The party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, responded after Adeleke raised concerns during a campaign rally in Osogbo, where he accused political opponents of fueling violence in the state and appealed to President Tinubu to intervene. Adeleke also alleged that unlawful killings were taking place in Osun and warned against any attempt to manipulate the governorship poll.

Reacting to the governor’s remarks, Bashiru dismissed the allegations and said it was surprising for a sitting governor to begin talking about election rigging several days before voting. He argued that political situations could still change before election day and insisted that Adeleke should spend more time explaining his government’s performance rather than accusing the President and APC leaders.

The APC official also claimed that the governor’s concerns reflected growing pressure from the increasing support the party and its governorship candidate, Munirudeen Oyebamiji, were receiving across the state. He maintained that the governor would have a better case before voters if he could point to completed projects and improvements in key sectors.

Bashiru further accused the Adeleke administration of failing to address major challenges in Osun, including poor road infrastructure and a shortage of teachers in public schools. According to him, fixing damaged roads would have improved business activities across the state, while employing more teachers would have created jobs and improved education.

He also said Adeleke’s public endorsement of President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election would not automatically guarantee support for the governor’s second-term ambition. Bashiru insisted that the people of Osun would assess the governor based on his record in office when they cast their votes.

The Osun State chapter of the APC also faulted Adeleke’s comments, accusing him of creating unnecessary political tension and attempting to shift responsibility for the state’s security challenges to President Tinubu and former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

In a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC described the governor’s allegations as unfounded and politically motivated. The party claimed Adeleke was trying to prepare excuses ahead of the election instead of addressing issues affecting the people.

The APC also alleged that the state government had granted controversial amnesty to some convicted political thugs and appointed some of them into public positions. It argued that such actions deserved public attention as the election approached.

The party maintained that Adeleke’s decision to support Tinubu’s second-term bid was voluntary and should not be used to seek political advantage. It added that the August 15 governorship election would provide Osun voters with the opportunity to judge the governor’s performance and decide who should lead the state for the next four years.

The Osun governorship race has become increasingly tense, with the APC and the Accord Party exchanging accusations over insecurity, political violence and the conduct of the coming election.