Oyebamiji and Adeleke
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former senator representing Ekiti Central, Babafemi Ojudu, has suggested that President Bola Tinubu may have signalled a change in approach to the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, urging the party’s leadership in the state to prepare for the political reality.
In a post on his Facebook page titled “Osun 2026: Tinubu’s Aroko and the Politics of ‘Oyo La Wa’,” Ojudu claimed that Governor Ademola Adeleke had previously made efforts to join the APC but was rejected by the party’s leadership in Osun State.
According to him, President Tinubu was reportedly favourably disposed to Adeleke’s proposed defection, but the move was opposed by leaders of the party in the state, particularly former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Ojudu further alleged that Adeleke eventually sought political refuge in the Accord Party after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which brought him to power, became weakened.
The former senator also linked the political contest in Osun to the recent wave of violence in the state, alleging that both the APC and Accord Party were desperate to win the August 15 governorship election, with each side blaming the other for the unrest.
He equally alleged that the arrest and transfer of the Osun Secretary to the State Government to Abuja was an attempt to intimidate the opposition, but said the move failed to weaken Adeleke’s camp.
Ojudu claimed that several opinion polls conducted in the last three months indicated that the APC was not enjoying a comfortable lead in the election, adding that some surveys allegedly placed the party third.
He also alleged that the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was aimed at weakening the state government and the Accord Party ahead of the election.
According to him, President Tinubu may have reconsidered the political implications of the development after observing public reactions and the reported outcome of the opinion polls.
Ojudu further claimed that the President personally reached out to Governor Adeleke and suggested that Tinubu’s decision to personally sign a recent statement was a coded political message to security agencies.
He expressed the belief that security agencies might adopt a less confrontational approach towards the Osun governor in the days leading to the election.
The statement reads, “Do you know that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke made serious efforts to join the APC but was rebuffed? The President was reportedly favourably disposed to his joining, but the local chapter would have none of it.
“We do not need you in our party. We can win the next election without you,” they apparently reasoned.
“Tinubu tried but could not persuade them to change their position. His brother, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, led the opposition to Adeleke’s entry.
“Meanwhile, the party that brought Adeleke to power had been severely weakened by Emperor Wike. Adeleke was therefore left in political limbo, eventually finding refuge in the relatively obscure Accord Party.
“The desperation of both the APC and Accord to capture Osun has since triggered a disturbing wave of violence, resulting in many deaths, with each side accusing the other of responsibility.
“In an attempt to intimidate the opposition, a trick was pulled from the Obasanjo and Jonathan playbook. The state’s Secretary to the State Government was picked up, driven furiously by road to Abuja and confronted with several allegations. That, too, failed to distract the Accord warriors.
“Every opinion poll conducted within the past three months—by all the parties contesting the election, as well as by a security agency—suggests that the APC does not enjoy a comfortable lead. Some reports even claim that the party placed third in certain polls. This may explain the desperate attempt, in the run-up to the election, to use the EFCC to cripple the state government and weaken the Accord Party.
“The President, being a pragmatic politician, must have taken note of the public outrage that greeted the freezing of the state government’s accounts, as well as the results of the opinion polls. Politically, he is never attracted to a loser, no matter the filial relationship involved.
“He must also recognise the importance of maintaining a reasonably friendly political environment in Osun ahead of his own re-election next year. He needs every vote he can get there. A hostile Osun does not augur well for him, especially considering the ground he has lost in the northern part of the country.
These considerations may have informed his swift intervention and change of course.
“Watch closely: in the days leading to the governorship election, the security agencies may become noticeably less belligerent towards Governor Adeleke and his bid for a second term. He put a personal call to him yesterday, a credible report claimed and the governor also acknowledged that. The President’s decision to personally sign the press statement may have been his aroko—his coded message—to them.
“As for members of our party, our candidate, Oyebamiji, and my good friend, the supreme leader of our party in Osun, Gboyega Oyetola, it is time to realise: OYO la wa o—On Your Own!”