APC Jittery Over Accord’s Rising Popularity Ahead of 2026 Polls – Adeleke’s Spokesperson

By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo

The spokesperson to Osun State Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is unsettled by the growing popularity of the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 governorship election in the state.

Rasheed stated this while reacting to comments attributed to a federal lawmaker, Hon. Wole Oke, who reportedly called for the deregistration of the Accord Party. He described the call as unconstitutional, illegal and a sign of desperation by the opposition.

According to Rasheed, Accord has emerged as a strong and viable political platform for Governor Ademola Adeleke in the forthcoming election, a development he said has triggered panic within the APC.

He accused Oke of engaging in “undemocratic advocacy” in an attempt to please political interests within the APC, adding that the ruling party in Osun would not be distracted by what he described as baseless attacks.

“The fixation of the APC on deleting Accord from the electoral process instead of facing the electorate raises serious questions about its confidence,” Rasheed said. “If the APC is certain of its popularity, it should submit itself to the will of the voters.”

The governor’s spokesperson further alleged that the APC was engaged in plots aimed at weakening democratic governance in Osun State, including alleged attempts to financially pressure the state through the withholding of local government allocations.

He maintained that such actions were inconsistent with democratic principles and warned against any move capable of destabilising the state’s political environment.

Rasheed said Governor Adeleke would approach the 2026 election on the strength of his administration’s performance since assuming office in 2022, which he said has received positive reviews from local and international observers.

Highlighting the achievements of the current administration, he said Osun State has made significant progress in primary healthcare delivery, education, infrastructure, agriculture and pension administration.

According to him, Osun moved from 33rd to 7th position in national NECO and WAEC rankings, constructed over 250 kilometres of roads across the state, and cleared more than ₦100 billion in pension and half-salary arrears.

He added that the Adeleke administration has supported farmers with tractors and farm inputs, strengthened cooperatives and artisans through funding, upgraded sports facilities including the Osogbo City Stadium, and improved the ease of doing business to attract private sector investments.

Rasheed challenged the APC governorship candidate, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, to campaign based on his party’s record in office between 2018 and 2022, while stressing that Governor Adeleke would present his own record from 2022 to date to the electorate.

“The people of Osun have experienced both good governance and maladministration. They know the difference,” he said.

He called on the APC to embrace issue-based campaigns and democratic competition, urging the party to seek power through the ballot rather than what he described as shortcuts.

Rasheed expressed confidence that the electorate would deliver its verdict during the governorship election scheduled for August 8, 2026.