The political atmosphere in Osun State has intensified following a heated exchange between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party, marking an early start to the campaign for the 2026 governorship election. The APC has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of sponsoring political attacks, while the Accord Party has launched a fierce defence of the administration’s record.
The conflict erupted on Sunday, 21st December 2025, when the Osun State APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, issued a statement accusing Governor Adeleke and his supporters of orchestrating a campaign of calumny. Lawal alleged the governor was targeting the party’s newly elected governorship candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, and the former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
“We have observed the orchestrated efforts of the injured and embittered Mr. Adeleke and his co-travellers, their coordinated efforts to either sponsor hatchet writers or directly heap tantrums on the leader of our party in the state,” Lawal stated. He framed the alleged attacks as a sign of panic from a failing administration, questioning the government’s performance on health, education, and infrastructure. Lawal concluded by asserting that the APC’s victory in the August 2026 election was “a done deal”.
In a swift and pointed response, the Chairman of the Osun State Accord Party, Victor Akande, dismissed the APC’s allegations as the “rage, the lies and the incoherent attacks” of a desperate opposition. Akande’s party, which is not in the ruling coalition but has been supportive of the government, mounted a vigorous defence of Governor Adeleke’s nearly three-year tenure.
He presented a sharp contrast between the current administration and the preceding APC governments. “Unlike the APC era, where Osun workers were wickedly subjected to the intermittent and dehumanising payment of half salaries, Governor Adeleke has prioritised workers’ welfare, restored consistency in salary payments, addressed arrears and brought back dignity to labour,” Akande said. He accused the APC of attempting to “deny history and pretend innocence” over policies he labelled as administrative wickedness.
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This war of words is rooted in a deep and recent political history. The state’s politics have been highly competitive, with the PDP’s Ademola Adeleke ending the APC’s 12-year hold on power in the 2022 governorship election. Adeleke secured 403,371 votes to defeat the incumbent, Gboyega Oyetola, who polled 375,027 votes. The election result was contested in court, with legal disputes prolonging political tensions into 2023.
The involvement of the Accord Party adds a new dimension to the political landscape. While not part of the formal ruling structure, its vocal defence of the PDP administration suggests evolving political alliances as parties begin to position themselves for the next poll. The exchange highlights that the battle for Osun in 2026 will not be a straightforward two-party contest but may involve significant alignment and realignment of forces.
This early clash sets the tone for what is expected to be a fiercely contested governorship race. The APC’s strategy appears focused on keeping its base united under the leadership of Oyetola and its new candidate, Oyebamiji, while aggressively challenging the narrative of the Adeleke administration’s success. The PDP, through proxies like the Accord Party, is countering by anchoring its campaign on the reversal of the previous administration’s most unpopular policies, particularly the half-salary issue for civil servants, which remains a potent grievance.
As the state enters the new year, these allegations and counter-allegations over performance, legacy, and integrity are likely to dominate public discourse.
