By Ismail Azeez
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised Governor Ademola Adeleke to begin preparing his handover note, claiming that recent political developments point to his defeat in the 2026 governorship election.
The party, in a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, said events surrounding the governor’s political activities, including his recent campaign launch and an incident at Ijebu-Jesa, indicated declining political fortunes.
Olabisi noted that it is their humble advice for Governor Adeleke to start writing his handover note, as unfolding events since he fell from the podium at the center of the ancient town of Ijebu-Jesa in the Oriade Local Government Council Area of Osun State last week point to his imminent loss.
“Apart from the fact that the political party under which the governor is seeking re-election has been deregistered without any definite assurance of being brought back to life, the deregistered Accord Party in Osun State in particular, and Nigeria in general, is relatively unknown and verifiably unpopular.”
“The temporary respite that came to the camp of the deregistered Accord Party and four others is that the Court of Appeal on Tuesday ordered a stay of execution on the judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the affected political parties,” he said.
Commenting on the campaign flag-off for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election held yesterday, Olabisi described the turnout at the event as clear evidence of declining popularity.
According to the statement, Olabisi said, “given the high level of propaganda that preceded the campaign launch through electronic, print, and social media, one would have thought Governor Adeleke would literally shut down the state capital yesterday, but the reverse was the case.”
“The poor attendance at the Adeleke re-election campaign launch was an indication that he is far from being popular, as the few members of the deregistered Accord Party who attended were merely attracted to the event by promised mobilization funds.”
“It was learned that the mobilization funds became a source of embarrassment to the leadership of the deregistered party in the state, as members who made it to the event resisted being shortchanged, leading to physical infighting at some spots around the Old Garage area of Osogbo, close to the venue.”
“Since that Monday, things have not been the same for Governor Adeleke, as his actions and inactions show he is facing the most difficult political challenge of his life, running from pillar to post without any immediate solution in sight.”
“Those who are cashing in on the ignorance of the desperate governor to milk him dry should know that their deceitful game has an expiration date, which is fast approaching and will reach its peak on the day of reckoning, August 15, 2026.”
“One of the highlights of the event occurred when leaders of the politically insignificant decampees took time to address the scanty crowd, forcing the governor himself to instruct the obviously disinterested, rented audience to cheer for individuals who hold little to no political value in their respective domains.”
“The APC wants to impress it upon the desperate Governor Adeleke that serving the people should not be by force, especially since what was witnessed at his campaign launch indicates that the people of the state have unanimously rejected him, viewing his best performance over the past three years as inadequate for the transformation of the state.”
“Another highlight of the event was when Governor Adeleke kept assuring the rented crowd with an air of finality that he was completely certain the name of his deregistered party would appear on the ballot paper, acting as if he would be the one sitting in judgment over the legal matter,” the statement read.