Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has strongly criticized the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, following his remarks about the party’s intentions to take over Osun and Oyo states after its victory in the Ondo gubernatorial election.
The controversy began when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the Ondo election. In the wake of this announcement, Ganduje expressed the APC’s ambition to capture Oyo and Osun states, both of which are currently governed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to Ganduje, efforts to gain control of these states had already begun.
Governor Adeleke, in his response, argued that Ganduje’s comments were not only unprovoked but also aimed at destabilizing the Southwest region and inciting unnecessary conflict. Through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke dismissed Ganduje’s statement as anti-democratic, contrasting it with the democratic values upheld by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“One would have expected Dr. Ganduje, a seasoned politician, to understand that electoral outcomes depend on local dynamics and factors,” Rasheed said. He further explained that what worked in Edo and Ondo states would not necessarily apply in Osun, emphasizsing that local grievances, interests, and other regional factors ultimately determine the electoral results.
He pointed to Ganduje’s failure to secure victory in the Kano governorship race as an example, where his faction was defeated by the Kwankwasiyya group despite his long tenure as governor of the state. Rasheed also mocked Ganduje for his inability to secure a win for the APC in Kano despite controlling the state for eight years, describing it as a clear sign of the limits of “superimposed force” in politics. He also warned that any attempt to undermine the will of the people in Osun, where Adeleke was elected, would not be tolerated. “The people of Osun have spoken, and their will must be respected. Any attempt to disregard the democratic choice of Osun’s citizens in the 2026 elections will be fiercely resisted,” Rasheed added.
Adeleke went on to question Ganduje’s loyalty to President Tinubu, asking, “If Dr. Ganduje truly supports Mr. President, why is he pushing actions that could destabilise the president’s home zone by making threats to violate electoral law and undermine the voters’ right to freely choose their leaders?”
