Governor Adeleke Accuses APC Chairman Ganduje of Plotting to Destabilize Southwest
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, of attempting to destabilize the Southwestern region and has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
The accusation follows comments by Ganduje, who reportedly stated that the APC’s goal is to capture Osun and Oyo States, the remaining Southwestern states under the control of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ganduje made the remarks in Akure, Ondo State, shortly after the APC’s candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was declared winner of the November 16 governorship election.
Adeleke Responds
Reacting through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke described Ganduje’s remarks as anti-democratic and a threat to the unity of the region. He accused the APC chairman of seeking to ignite regional unrest and weaken President Tinubu’s base in the Southwest ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Dr. Ganduje seems driven by a swollen ego and is pursuing an agenda to destabilize the Southwest zone,” Adeleke said. “This threatens the peace and unified support the region currently offers Mr. President.”Adeleke criticized Ganduje for what he called “dictatorial and undemocratic utterances,” which he argued contradicted Tinubu’s democratic principles. He emphasized that local political dynamics, rather than external pressures, determine electoral outcomes.
Osun’s Unique Political Landscape
Governor Adeleke highlighted the distinct political environment in Osun, contrasting it with the situations in Edo and Ondo States. He pointed out Ganduje’s failure to secure Kano State for the APC as evidence of the importance of local factors in elections.
“In Kano, local peculiarities ensured the victory of the Kwankwasiyya group over Ganduje’s faction, despite his eight years in power,” Adeleke said. “Similarly, in Osun, the factors that brought me to office will resist any external attempts to undermine the will of the people.”
He further asserted that Osun State’s political history is rooted in resistance to electoral fraud and a commitment to political freedom, making any attempt to impose external influence futile.
Defending Osun’s PDP StrongholdAdeleke also argued that Osun’s PDP is growing stronger, with increasing defections from opposition parties. He labeled the PDP a “mass movement” in the state, emphasizing its resilience against any threats from the APC or its leadership.
“If Ganduje truly supports President Tinubu, he should not be sowing discord in the president’s home region. His threats to hijack opposition states undermine the general consensus among Yoruba people, who see Mr. President as their own, irrespective of party lines.”
Governor Adeleke concluded by reaffirming his popularity and the strength of the PDP in Osun, vowing that the people’s mandate in the state will remain protected against
