President Bola Tinubu’s relationships with the governors of Osun and Anambra states have caused unease among All Progressives Congress (APC) members in both states, according to findings gathered.
The disgruntled members contended that Tinubu’s overt endorsement of Governors Ademola Adeleke of Osun and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra may endanger the party’s presidential hopefuls.
APC leaders in Osun, particularly those who support Gboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, were not pleased with Adeleke’s recent visit to Tinubu at his home in Lagos.
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Recall that on June 3, Governor Adeleke, alongside his businessman brother, Dr Deji Adeleke, and his nephew, Afrobeat star, David Adeleke, met Tinubu in Lagos.
The visit followed after the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, after delivering the maiden annual lecture at the Osun State University, Osogbo, visited Adeleke at the Government House on May 20.
Reports of Adeleke’s alleged decision to join the APC amid the PDP governors defecting to the party were sparked by her visit to Tinubu.
Supporters of Adeleke and the APC also discussed the governor’s potential decision to join the ruling party on social media.
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According to reports, some of Adeleke’s supporters—who were previously renowned for their criticism of Tinubu and the APC—shifted their allegiance in order to justify the governor’s alleged decision to join the party following his visit to Tinubu.
Several of Oyetola’s supporters sharply denounced the visit in response to the news.
They expressed fear of a repeat of what happened in Oyo State, where Tinubu pitched his tent with an opposition governor, Seyi Makinde, against the governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Teslim Folarin.
The APC leaders further alleged that Adeleke was afraid of defeat, hence his “desperate move” to dump the PDP and join the ruling party.
A chieftain of the APC, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said it would be unfair for Tinubu to accommodate Adeleke at the expense of loyal party members in the state.
In addition to expressing uncertainty about the President’s position on the 2026 governorship election, he said that the party leadership was uncomfortable with Tinubu’s association with Adeleke.
“The President is someone to be cautious about. You can’t predict his political moves. Look at how he maneuvered in Oyo State against his own party in 2023. We don’t want that to happen in Osun.
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“We don’t want Adeleke to join the APC. He wants to steal the fruit of our hard work. We have remained steadfast and have won over many PDP members before now. We don’t need Adeleke to win the election.”
The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 6, 2026, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
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