With just 11 days to the Osun State governorship election, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashiru, has urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to stop making allegations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC leaders and instead focus on issue-based campaigning.

Bashiru, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, said the governor’s recent comments accusing President Tinubu and former Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, of being responsible for developments in the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election were misplaced and politically motivated.

The APC National Secretary was reacting to remarks allegedly made by Governor Adeleke at a campaign rally in Osun State, where he claimed that extrajudicial killings were taking place and appealed to President Tinubu to intervene.

At the rally, Adeleke was quoted as saying:

“President Bola Tinubu, something is happening in Osun that you have not moved to put an end to. They are killing our people. You are the President; you are the father for all of us. Osun has said they won’t allow rigging.

“There won’t be rigging in Osun. Remember what happened in 1983 when they cheated Bola Ige and Ajasin. Osun will not agree. We want a free and fair election. President Tinubu, I am passing this message to you. We have endorsed you; why are they still killing us?”

Responding, Bashiru dismissed the allegations and challenged Adeleke to present his achievements to the people if he genuinely deserved a second term.

According to him, the governor’s comments reflected anxiety over an impending electoral defeat.

“It is surprising that a sitting governor would be talking about rigging in an election that is still 11 days away. In politics, even 24 hours is enough to change circumstances. Such statements only suggest fear and uncertainty,” Bashiru said.

He argued that the Adeleke administration had failed to adequately address key developmental challenges in the state, citing poor infrastructure and shortages in the education sector.

The APC scribe claimed that more than 20 roads across Osun State remained in deplorable condition, while the state was facing a deficit of about 30,000 teachers.

“If those roads had been rehabilitated, they would have stimulated economic activities and improved the welfare of the people. Likewise, addressing the shortage of teachers would have created jobs and strengthened the educational system,” he added.

Bashiru further stated that Adeleke’s endorsement of President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election should not be mistaken for a guarantee of victory in the forthcoming governorship contest.

He maintained that the growing acceptance of the APC and its candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), across the state was unsettling the governor, leading him to resort to what he described as “cheap blackmail” in search of political sympathy.

Meanwhile, the APC National Secretariat also backed the position of the party’s Osun State chapter, which accused Adeleke of unfairly blaming President Tinubu and former Governor Oyetola for his political challenges.

In a statement issued in Osogbo on Tuesday by the state APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, the party expressed disappointment over Adeleke’s allegations and described them as baseless.

Olabisi alleged that the governor was responsible for encouraging political violence in the state and was merely seeking excuses ahead of what the party believes will be his defeat at the polls.

“The unsubstantiated allegations against President Tinubu and former Governor Oyetola are frivolous and amount to an attempt to justify an imminent electoral loss,” Olabisi stated.

He further accused the governor of turning the Government House into a haven for political hoodlums and questioned why individuals allegedly linked to criminal activities had been appointed to government positions.

The APC spokesman also criticized what he described as the governor’s decision to grant questionable amnesty to some convicted political thugs serving jail terms in correctional facilities across the state.

According to him, Adeleke appeared uncomfortable with political competition and had chosen to portray himself as a victim of persecution without providing evidence to support his claims.

Olabisi reminded the governor that his endorsement of President Tinubu’s second-term bid was voluntary and should not be used as a basis for expecting political concessions.

“If Governor Adeleke truly believes he has performed well in office, the August 15 governorship election will provide the opportunity for the people of Osun State to assess his record and make their judgment,” he said.

He also questioned the governor’s handling of security matters, noting that as the state’s constitutional chief security officer, Adeleke should be accountable for the security situation in Osun rather than blaming others for any challenges.

The APC maintained that the forthcoming governorship election should be contested on the basis of performance, policies and the future direction of the state, rather than allegations and political rhetoric.

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