- The All Progressives Congress in Osun State dismissed allegations by Ademola Adeleke that it planned to use federal influence to win the 2026 governorship election
- The party’s spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, described the claims as baseless, insisting the party was focused on mobilisation and legitimate political strategies
- The APC expressed confidence in its candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, saying growing defections and support across the state strengthened its chances ahead of the August 2026 poll
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has dismissed allegations by Governor Ademola Adeleke that the opposition party plans to rely on federal influence to manipulate the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for 15 August 2026.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, described the accusation as baseless and politically motivated. According to him, the governor’s remarks were an attempt to prepare the public for what he suggested could be an impending electoral defeat.
Olabisi said the allegations surfaced following comments reportedly made by Adeleke during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Accord Party, where the governor accused the APC of planning to deploy federal authority during the election.
Rejecting the claim, the APC spokesman insisted that the party had no intention of influencing the electoral process through unlawful means. He maintained that the opposition was confident of victory based on its expanding support base across the state.
“The allegation that our party intends to rely on federal might to win the governorship election is a mere figment of the imagination of some rumour mongers,” Olabisi said.
He added that the APC had been concentrating on legitimate political mobilisation and strategic planning ahead of the poll, noting that these efforts would ultimately determine the outcome of the election.
The party also pointed to recent political developments within Osun State, claiming that several prominent political figures previously aligned with the governor’s political structure had defected to the APC.
Among those mentioned were Shuaib Oyedokun, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi and Wole Oke, whom the party said had strengthened its chances ahead of the election. Olabisi also cited the support of political figures such as Dotun Babayemi and Akin Ogunbiyi as further evidence of shifting political alignments in the state.
According to the APC, these developments reflect growing momentum for the party as preparations intensify for the governorship contest.
Olabisi also highlighted the candidacy of Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, describing him as a serious contender who is gaining increasing support across communities in the state.
“Our governorship candidate is a serious contender who is going into the August 2026 election to win convincingly without resorting to fraudulent means,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has continued to caution against any attempts to intimidate voters during the electoral process.
Speaking at a gathering of leaders and ward officials of the Accord Party across Osun’s 332 wards in Osogbo, the governor stressed that federal authority should be used to promote good governance rather than interfere in elections.
“Federal might is for good governance, not election rigging,” Adeleke said, urging residents to remain vigilant and safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.
He further appealed to voters to defend the sanctity of the ballot, insisting that only the votes of the people should determine who governs the state.