The political atmosphere in Osun State has intensified as the spokesperson for Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, has launched a scathing attack on the All Progressives Congress (APC). He accused the opposition party of orchestrating an undemocratic plot to deregister the Accord Party (AP) ahead of the crucial 2026 governorship election.
A Call for Deregistration Sparks Political Firestorm
Rasheed's reaction was triggered by a call from Wole Oke, the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade federal constituency, who advocated for the deregistration of the Accord Party. The governor's aide dismissed this call as an unlawful act of advocacy, allegedly designed to please the former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.
According to Rasheed, the APC's anxiety stems from the growing popularity of the Accord Party as a potential platform for Governor Adeleke's re-election bid. He argued that instead of engaging in a fair political contest, the APC is resorting to underhanded tactics to stifle competition.
"The APC's strategy is built on undemocratic plots rather than contending with the electorate," Rasheed stated. He challenged the APC to drop its alleged plot and take the fight directly to the voters if it is confident of its electoral strength.
Adeleke's Performance vs. APC's Record
Rasheed went on the offensive, highlighting Governor Adeleke's achievements since assuming office in 2022. He listed significant improvements across multiple sectors including primary healthcare, education, infrastructure development, agriculture, and the repayment of pension and salary debts.
He directly challenged the APC's 2026 governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to present his party's record from their tenure between 2018 and 2022 for public scrutiny. "Governor Adeleke has surpassed 12 years of APC rule in just three years," Rasheed claimed confidently.
Furthermore, he threw down the gauntlet for a policy debate and demanded answers regarding Oyebamiji's previous roles as head of the Osun Investment Agency and Commissioner for Finance.
Accord Party Defends Its Legitimacy
Echoing the stance from the Governor's office, the Osun State chapter of the Accord Party also issued a strong rebuttal. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Victor Akande, the party described Wole Oke's call as a calculated attempt to mislead the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into taking unlawful action.
The party's statement clarified that the alleged plot for deregistration was aimed at preventing Governor Adeleke from contesting the upcoming election scheduled for August 8, 2026, on the Accord platform.
Accord Party maintained that it remains a fully registered political party in full compliance with all constitutional and statutory requirements under the Electoral Act. "Accord has consistently participated in elections across Nigeria and has met, and even exceeded, the conditions required of registered political parties," the statement affirmed.
The party urged its members and supporters across Osun State to remain calm and focused, dismissing the deregistration claims as unfounded and misleading. This developing story sets the stage for a fiercely contested governorship election in 2026.
