The emergence of Bola Oyebamiji as the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has sparked a war of words between the APC and Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, in a statement released by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday, declared, “I will beat Oyebamiji by the might of God and the people.” He criticized Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, describing his optimism about a potential victory as “wishful thinking” and indicative of the APC’s “deep level of unpopularity” in Osun.
Adeleke labeled Oyetola’s previous regime as an “anti-people era,” lamenting the poor state of affairs he inherited upon taking office in 2022. He characterized that period as a “dark page in Osun’s socio-political history,” asserting that it is a time the populace does not wish to see revisited.
Expressing confidence in the support for his re-election, Adeleke criticized the APC for relying on “anti-democratic activities” rather than engaging with voters directly. “If you are sure you have the votes of the people, why are you deploying anti-democratic means to stop the unstoppable will of our people?” he questioned.
Responding, the APC, through its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, accused Adeleke of displaying anxiety over Oyebamiji’s candidacy. The party asserted that the people of Osun were weary of the governor’s public appearances and urged him to begin preparing his handover notes.
“Governor Adeleke should understand that the people of Osun are no longer willing to be taken for granted by his gaffes and inadequate performance over the past three years,” the APC stated. They criticized Adeleke for claiming popularity through what they described as “influenced and skewed” social media narratives.
The statement also challenged Adeleke’s governance, highlighting issues such as the sacking of teachers employed by the previous administration while underlining their commitment to Oyebamiji as a serious contender for the August 8, 2026 election.
“The people of Osun State are tired of mere edifices that serve as public schools without teachers,” the APC asserted. The party advised Adeleke to start drafting his handover note, suggesting that the factors that previously favored him in the 2022 election are no longer applicable.