The spokesperson for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has criticized recent statements about the 2026 governorship election, describing them as undemocratic and a threat to the political stability of the South West region.
In a statement signed by Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to destabilize the region and undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership by fostering political unrest. The remarks, Rasheed said, reflect a disregard for the political autonomy of Osun State and the democratic principles upheld by the Yoruba people.
Rasheed was reacting to a reported vow by the APC leader to “hijack Osun in 2026,” which he described as an empty threat that ignores the local dynamics of Osun politics. He argued that electoral outcomes in the state are determined by local grievances, interests, and peculiarities rather than external influence or imposition.
The spokesperson pointed to the APC chairman’s political track record, particularly his inability to secure Kano State for his party despite being in office for eight years. “If he failed to win Kano due to local forces rejecting his brand of politics, why does he think Osun, which overwhelmingly supported Governor Adeleke, would tolerate any attempt to disrespect the will of its people?” Rasheed questioned.
He emphasized that Osun State, as the cradle of Yoruba politics, has a long-standing tradition of resisting electoral fraud and safeguarding political freedom. Rasheed described the APC chairman’s rhetoric as a direct challenge to the state’s political values and traditions.
“Osun’s ruling party, the PDP, has become a mass movement, daily receiving thousands of defectors from opposition parties,” the statement read. “Governor Adeleke remains an extraordinarily popular leader whose mandate cannot be hijacked by anti-democratic forces.”
Rasheed also accused the APC leader of working against President Tinubu’s interest by pushing divisive politics in the South West, a move he said could undermine the region’s unity and consensus. “If the APC chairman truly supports Mr. President, why is he threatening to violate electoral laws and destabilize opposition states?”
He called on the APC leader to study the political dynamics of Osun State, emphasizing that the strategies used in other states like Edo and Ondo cannot work in Osun due to its unique political landscape.
“Osun’s people will resist any attempt to suppress their rights. The PDP remains firmly rooted in the state, and Governor Adeleke’s popularity continues to soar. Any plot to undermine the state’s democracy will be met with stiff opposition,” he noted.
