Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused some elements within the fold of the All Progressives Congress in the state of orchestrating moves to disrupt the August 15, 2026, governorship election out of fear of defeat.
The governor, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, alleged that elements in Osun APC were bent on subverting the will of the people, having realised that they stood no chance at the polls.
“Having seen clearly that Osun people have rejected them, they (elements in Osun APC) are now resorting to anti-democratic means in a last-ditch effort to secure power,” the statement read.
It further said that opinion surveys allegedly “commissioned by the Osun APC itself from the last quarter of 2025 to March 2026 have consistently placed the APC’s popularity below 30 per cent, while Adeleke’s approval rating has remained between 68 and 72 per cent.
“This clearly shows that Governor Adeleke enjoys overwhelming support from the people. The opposition can already see the outcome ahead of August 15,” it added.
Adeleke further alleged that the opposition’s desperation worsened following recent revelations by Dr Akin Ogunbiyi regarding the stance of President Bola Tinubu on the Osun election.
“That reality unsettled the Oyetola/Oyebamiji faction of the state APC. Once it became public that there would be no external manipulation of the electoral process, the opposition’s desperation deepened, leaving them with no option but to resort to failed schemes.
“They attempted to factionalise political platforms like the Accord, which also failed.
“Now, they are pushing for its deregistration. They will fail again. The opposition’s fear stems from the certainty that Osun people will overwhelmingly reject them at the polls.
“They are afraid of the people and the power of the ballot. That is why they are working tirelessly to undermine the democratic process and deny citizens their constitutional rights to vote and be voted for,” the statement read.
Responding, Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, dismissed Adeleke’s allegations, saying the governor was already “seeing his approaching defeat.”
Olabisi said, “This is simple arithmetic. Those eminent politicians in their camp have all left. Look at Wole Oke, Fadahunsi, Ajilesoro, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi and many others.
“So, what is left of their party? Apart from the fact that their party is unpopular, it is also spineless. The people of Osun should discountenance Adeleke because he doesn’t know what he is saying.”
