Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the National President of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, of threatening Nigeria’s democracy.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and caution the former Kano State governor.
In a statement released on Monday, Adeleke responded to Ganduje’s recent comments about taking control of Osun in 2026, made in the wake of the APC’s victory in the Ondo State governorship election.
Adeleke claimed that Ganduje was dissatisfied with the South West’s unity and support for President Tinubu, and was attempting to create regional political tensions that could undermine the president’s position ahead of the 2027 elections, according to The PUNCH.
He argued that Ganduje’s remarks were undemocratic and contrary to the values of democracy promoted by President Tinubu.
Adeleke noted that electoral outcomes are influenced by local factors, and that the political realities of Osun are different from those of Edo and Ondo states. He emphasised that voter behaviour is shaped by local grievances and interests, not by external influences or impositions.
The governor also pointed out that Ganduje had faced internal resistance in Kano, where his faction of the APC was outperformed by the Kwankwasiyya group despite his eight years in office.
Adeleke questioned why Ganduje thought the people of Osun, who had supported him in the 2022 governorship election, would allow their will to be disregarded in 2026. He emphasised that Osun is a stronghold of the Yoruba people, where political freedom and resistance to electoral fraud are deeply valued.
Adeleke further accused Ganduje of being an insider threat to President Tinubu’s leadership. He argued that if Ganduje truly supported the president, he would not be trying to destabilise the South West with threats to violate electoral laws and deny citizens their right to vote.
The governor also warned Ganduje to reconsider his approach in Osun, as political dynamics in the state differ from those in other regions like Edo and Ondo. Adeleke highlighted that recent defections from opposition parties to the ruling party had strengthened the PDP’s position in Osun, and made it clear that Ganduje did not have the mandate from President Tinubu to stir up political conflict in the region.
“As a seasoned politician, one would have expected Dr Ganduje to understand that electoral outcomes are influenced by local factors. What applies in Edo and Ondo is not necessarily reflective of political realities in Osun State.
” Voter behaviour is shaped by local grievances and interests, not by external impositions.
“If Ganduje failed in his own state due to internal resistance, why does he think the people of Osun, who endorsed Governor Adeleke, will allow their will to be disregarded in 2026?” Adeleke continued. “Osun is the heart of the Yoruba people, where political freedom is deeply valued, and resistance to electoral fraud is a tradition.”
