Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against invoking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name to influence the upcoming August 15, 2026 governorship election in the state.
Speaking to leaders and ward officials of the Accord Party across all 332 wards in Osun State, Adeleke accused the Osun APC of using the president’s name to intimidate voters by claiming it would deploy “federal might” to sway the election. His remarks were issued in a statement on Sunday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
“The governor berated the Osun APC for dragging President Bola Tinubu’s name in the mud through its constant vow to deploy federal institutions to rig forthcoming elections, clarifying that Mr President, as a democrat, is not involved in such anti-democratic boasts,” the statement said.
Adeleke noted that President Tinubu’s federal initiatives, such as the Ibadan-Ilesa road reconstruction, student loan programmes, and the pledge to establish state police, demonstrate his commitment to good governance—not election manipulation. He called on the APC to stop denigrating the president and federal government, stressing that Osun voters are determined to decide the outcome of the polls themselves.
“Your votes will determine the winners. No force can override the people and God. Ignore those threatening you with federal power. They don’t have the support of Mr President,” Adeleke said.
The meeting also saw endorsements from key figures, including Prof. Wale Oladipo, Chairman of Imole Movement, and PDP State Chairman Hon. Sunday Bisi, who directed PDP structures to mobilise votes for Adeleke. Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, urged party leaders to register over two million members for the Accord Party, pledging that Adeleke would be overwhelmingly re-elected.
Adeleke’s message reinforces his position that the people’s votes, not threats or federal influence, will determine the state’s leadership in the 2026 governorship election.
