The All Progressives Congress (APC) has responded to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s recent comments, urging him to stop blaming President Bola Tinubu and former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for his political challenges and instead focus on campaigning based on his administration’s performance ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, dismissed Adeleke’s allegations of planned election rigging and political killings, describing them as signs of panic over a possible defeat.
“Why would a sitting governor be talking about rigging 11 days before an election when 24 hours is enough to change things in politics?” Basiru said.
The APC chieftain argued that Adeleke should focus on explaining his achievements to voters rather than accusing political opponents, claiming that Osun still faces major challenges, including poor road infrastructure and a shortage of teachers.
According to Basiru, the governor’s endorsement of President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election does not guarantee his own re-election in Osun.
He also claimed that the growing support for the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has unsettled the Adeleke camp.
Meanwhile, the Osun APC, through its spokesperson Kola Olabisi, accused Governor Adeleke of promoting political violence in the state and rejected allegations that President Tinubu and Oyetola were behind the insecurity.
Olabisi also challenged the governor to explain claims that suspected political thugs had been rewarded with appointments and granted questionable amnesty ahead of the election.
“Why the worry if it is true that Governor Adeleke has done well for his state? The August 15 governorship election will be the yardstick to measure his claim,” Olabisi said.
The APC maintained that the upcoming governorship election should be decided by the performance of candidates and called on Adeleke to engage in an issue-based campaign rather than making what it described as unsubstantiated allegations.
