In a fiery escalation of Osun State’s political tension, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has lambasted Governor Ademola Adeleke, branding him a “Trojan horse,” a “liability,” and a “massive baggage,” while accusing his administration of corruption and political desperation ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, conveyed the position of the APC Chairman in the state, Tajudeen Lawal, who said Governor Adeleke’s alleged clandestine attempt to defect to the APC was decisively rebuffed.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke was rejected because he was quickly identified as a Trojan horse, a big baggage and liability that would damage the credibility and integrity of the APC,” Lawal declared.
The APC claimed that Adeleke’s attempted defection was born out of fear—fear of an imminent political downfall in the 2026 election—and that the party refused to be a safe haven for what it described as “political opportunism and strategic deception.”
“It was the looming defeat in 2026 that drove the governor to desperately seek asylum in our party. But Osun’s discerning public and our leadership saw through the ploy and shut the door before he could step in,” the statement added.
But the APC didn’t stop at Adeleke. The party launched a scathing critique of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing it as a crumbling and morally bankrupt structure overrun by what it called “political dregs.”
“The Osun PDP has become a leprous house, abandoned by well-meaning politicians,” the APC said. “Since 2023, it has been hijacked and hollowed out by the Adeleke dynasty. Those who can’t stomach the deceit, corruption, and chaos of the Adeleke government are leaving in droves, crossing into our party and leaving behind a skeletal, powerless shell of a party with no viable future.”
The APC dismissed PDP’s claim of popularity in the state as delusional and unsupported by reality, calling it “a weak attempt at self-consolation.”
In a swift response, Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, dismissed the APC’s allegations as politically motivated and unworthy of a back-and-forth.
“Our focus remains on the people of Osun. We won’t engage in needless propaganda or a war of words,” Bisi stated. “The PDP is not planning to rig the 2026 elections. We are committed to democracy and credible polls. The people of Osun know our track record. They will vote based on performance, and we are confident they will stand by their votes.”
Bisi further declared the PDP’s continued dominance in the state and reaffirmed that Governor Adeleke will not only retain his seat come 2026, but will do so with overwhelming support.
“Osun PDP remains solid as ever. Governor Adeleke will win resoundingly in 2026, and with the full backing of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will also secure Osun votes in the next national election,” he added.
This verbal warfare follows weeks of political speculation that Governor Adeleke was considering defecting to the APC. Adeleke, however, has since reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, while notably extending support to President Tinubu’s re-election bid—raising eyebrows and fueling further political intrigue.
As the countdown to 2026 begins, the political battlefield in Osun is heating up, with both major parties drawing their lines in the sand. The question remains: will Adeleke weather the storm, or is a fierce electoral showdown on the horizon?
PIONEER NEWS 