Fresh facts emerged on how some Chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State frustrated Governor Adekola Adeleke’s move to join the ruling party.
Chairman, Imole Campaign Council (ICC), Rep. Bamidele Salam who gave a vivid account of issues surrounding the botched move by the governor during an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, also highlighted some of the ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring success at the forthcoming Governorship election scheduled for Saturday, 15th August, 2026.
He said: “I am sure that you are aware that there was a move at the time for the Governor to join the All Progressives Congress based on the invitation he received from prominent leaders of the APC and consultation he had with the major players in Osun. The Governor actually gave it a positive thought to join the APC then.
“But what happened was that, there are people in the APC, especially in Osun State, who felt very uncomfortable with Governor Adeleke joining the party led by the Minister of Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola. They began to make all manner of moves, including blackmail and subtle threats on national television, to reject the move by the Governor to join that political party.
“So, Governor Adeleke has done his own part, he wanted to join them. They said, no, he shouldn’t join them. And he’s very comfortable in the Accord where he is today. So, the question should be to them why they didn’t want him. Otunba Iyiola Omisore said on television recently that it was Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola that was pushing them that he should go on TV to resist the coming of Governor Adeleke because it would jeopardize the governorship ambition of some persons.
“So, now they have a governorship candidate who did not emerge through any verified process. He did not partake in any primaries, he was just imposed as a lackey, like Otunba Iyiola Omisore used to say, who is now there, who cannot even gather any momentum for the election. As far as we are concerned, but the most critical thing is that the Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had even before he left the PDP, spoken on the need for Osun to queue behind Mr. President in the 2027 election, and he has given that commitment that he will work for the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, regardless of the fact that he is not in the APC. So, let’s leave it at that,” he said.
He maintained that Governor Adeleke’s decision to leave Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined Accord Party following the leadership crisis that rocked the PDP has positively turned around the fortunes of the party around
“The Governor left the PDP then, because the party had no definitive leadership and the window for the nomination of candidates was about to close in the month of December of last year. And so the Governor had to seek for an alternative platform and that was how the issue of Accord came on board. And since he joined the Accord, the party has received a lot of boosts in Osun and even in other parts of the country,” Salam noted.
While reacting to the insecurity in the State, Rep. Salam who frowned at the ugly development which led to the death of the armless Citizens, urged Inspector General of Police (IGP) who visited the State recently to take necessary action by bringing perpetuators and their sponsors to book, while ensuring adequate security of voters before, during and after the Governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, 15th August, 2026.
He said: “The important thing is that Governor Adeleke is on ground, he is well loved by the people. The unfortunate part of it is that the APC in Osun is too desperate, and they are pursuing this state capture agenda with so much desperation, weaponizing poverty, and weaponizing cultism, and getting young boys with weapons to be going around shooting, at times in branded vehicles, branded with the colour of the APC, in a manner that shows that the impunity appears to enjoy some form of official support.
