The All Progressives Congress in Osun State has rejected claims by Governor Ademola Adeleke that the party intends to use federal influence to manipulate the upcoming governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.
In a statement released on Sunday, the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, described the governor’s allegations as baseless and politically motivated. According to him, the accusations are an attempt to prepare excuses in advance in case the ruling camp fails to win the election.
The controversy began after comments reportedly made during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Accord Party, where Governor Adeleke warned supporters about what he described as plans by the opposition to deploy federal authority to influence the election outcome.
Reacting to the claims, Olabisi insisted that the APC has no intention of interfering with the electoral process through illegal means. Instead, he said the party is focused on building grassroots support and strengthening its political structure across the state ahead of the poll.
“The allegation that our party intends to rely on federal might to win the governorship election is a mere figment of the imagination of rumour mongers,” Olabisi said in the statement.
He added that the APC is confident of victory based on its political mobilisation and growing support among voters in the state.
According to the party, recent political developments in Osun have strengthened its position ahead of the election. Olabisi pointed to the defection of several influential politicians who were previously associated with the governor’s political camp.
Among those mentioned were Shuaib Oyedokun, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, and Wole Oke, whom the APC claims have contributed to expanding the party’s influence across the state.
The party also highlighted the support of other political figures, including Dotun Babayemi and Akin Ogunbiyi, saying their involvement has boosted campaign efforts ahead of the election.
Olabisi further expressed confidence in the party’s governorship candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO. He described Oyebamiji as a serious contender capable of winning the election without resorting to any form of electoral malpractice.
“Our candidate is entering the August 2026 governorship election with the determination to win convincingly through legitimate political engagement,” Olabisi said.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has continued to caution against what he described as attempts to intimidate voters during the electoral process. While addressing leaders and ward officials of the Accord Party across Osun’s 332 wards in Osogbo, the governor emphasised that federal authority should be used strictly for governance rather than electoral interference.
“Federal might is meant for good governance, not election rigging,” Adeleke stated, urging voters to remain alert and committed to protecting the integrity of the democratic process.
The governor also called on residents of the state to defend their votes during the election, insisting that the will of the people should ultimately determine who governs Osun State.
As political campaigns gradually intensify ahead of the 2026 governorship contest, analysts expect the rivalry between the APC and the ruling camp to shape the political atmosphere in the state in the coming months.
