The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday said Governor Ademola Adeleke should not use his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election as a reason to ease up on preparations for the 15 August governorship poll.
The party also told the governor to stop blaming Tinubu and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Gboyega Oyetola for what it called his political problems.
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The APC was replying to comments Adeleke made during a campaign rally in Olorunda Local Government Area on Monday evening.
At the rally, the governor accused President Tinubu of failing to act over what he called politically motivated arrests, victimisation and killings of Accord members. He also accused Oyetola of trying to derail democracy by instigating violence.
In its reply, the APC, through its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, rejected the governor’s claims. The party said Adeleke should focus on his own political situation instead of blaming others.
APC rejects governor’s explanation
The party said Adeleke’s earlier endorsement of Tinubu for the January 2027 presidential election was his personal decision and should not be presented as a reason for any difficulty ahead of the governorship election.
According to the statement, “We want to remind Governor Adeleke that his recall of the endorsement of President Tinubu as his presidential candidate in the 2027 election wasn’t forced on him and such his decision would not be the reason why he should not be prepared for a free, fair, credible and inclusive forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.”
The APC also said it did not believe the governor’s claims that he was facing political persecution. It accused him of trying to gain public sympathy ahead of the election and said such an approach would not help his bid for another term.
Olabisi said the allegations against Tinubu and Oyetola were “misplaced and frivolous” and claimed they were being used to explain what he called an approaching defeat for the governor at the poll.
Party trades accusations with governor
The APC went further by accusing Adeleke of turning the Osun Government House into a refuge for political hoodlums who, it claimed, were wanted by the police. It also alleged that such people had been rewarded with political appointments.
“The main problem with Governor Adeleke is that competition is strange to him which is the reason he is crying of political persecution all over the place without any tangible proof to establish his frivolous allegations,” the statement said.
The party also contrasted Adeleke with its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. It said Oyebamiji would rely on his competence in seeking election.
The APC also accused the governor of “wining and dining and frolicking with women of easy virtues across the globe in the name of sourcing for illusive foreign investors for close to four years.”
The exchange adds to the political contest ahead of the 15 August governorship election in Osun State, with both sides making strong accusations as campaigns continue.
Adeleke had used his rally in Olorunda to accuse the President of ignoring the alleged killings and arrests of Accord members. He also warned Oyetola against what he described as attempts to undermine democracy through violence.
The APC has now rejected those claims in full, saying the governor should stop blaming Tinubu and Oyetola for his political challenges and prepare for what it said should be a free, fair, credible and inclusive election.
The party maintained that the governor’s endorsement of Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election would not affect the conduct of the governorship poll or serve as an excuse for any outcome.
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