By Adesakin Adefemi
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused some leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state of plotting to disrupt the August 15, 2026 governorship election, saying the opposition has resorted to “anti-democratic means” after sensing defeat at the polls.
In a statement issued Wednesday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor alleged that “elements in Osun APC” were bent on subverting the will of the people because they “stood no chance” in a free contest. “Having seen clearly that Osun people have rejected them, they are now resorting to anti-democratic means in a last-ditch effort to secure power,” the statement read.
Adeleke claimed that internal opinion surveys allegedly commissioned by the Osun APC between the last quarter of 2025 and March 2026 consistently placed the party’s popularity below 30 per cent. In contrast, he said his 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,” the statement added.
The governor further linked the alleged desperation to recent comments by Dr Akin Ogunbiyi on President Bola Tinubu’s stance regarding the Osun election. According to Adeleke, revelations that there would be “no external manipulation of the electoral process” unsettled the Oyetola/Oyebamiji faction of the state APC and deepened its desperation.
“They attempted to factionalise political platforms like the Accord, which also failed. Now, they are pushing for its deregistration. They will fail again,” the statement said. Adeleke insisted the opposition fears the ballot because “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 governor said.
Reacting, Osun APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi dismissed the allegations, saying Adeleke was “seeing his approaching defeat.” Olabisi argued that several prominent politicians had already left the governor’s camp, citing Wole Oke, Fadahunsi, Ajilesoro, Dotun Babayemi, and Akin Ogunbiyi among others.
“So, what is left of their party? Apart from the fact that their party is unpopular, it is also spineless,” Olabisi said. He urged residents to “discountenance Adeleke because he doesn’t know what he is saying,” describing the governor’s claims as political arithmetic that does not add up.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026. Both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the APC have begun early mobilization ahead of the poll, with defections and realignments shaping the contest in recent months.
INEC has yet to respond to the governor’s allegations of planned disruption. Security agencies in the state have also not issued any statement on potential threats to the election as of press time.
