Adeleke’s Campaign Team Rejects APC’s Strategy for Osun Election

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), the team backing Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, has rejected the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s plan to bring in governors, lawmakers and other political leaders for their campaign ahead of the governorship election on 15 August.

The council said the APC’s approach shows a wrong view of how much political office holders can change the outcome of the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set the Osun governorship election for Saturday, 15 August. This election is separate from the general elections scheduled for 2027.

This back-and-forth comes as the APC ramps up its campaign for the election, which they see as a key test of their political strength ahead of the 2027 elections.

During the launch of the APC Campaign Council on Tuesday in Abuja, the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, stated that the party would send governors, National Assembly members, local government chairmen and other political figures to help them win in Osun State.

But TICC dismissed this plan, saying that just having many political leaders does not mean they will get votes.

In a statement signed by Bamidele Salam, the Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee, TICC urged the APC to focus on winning over voters in Osun instead of relying on political figures from outside the state.

The council also took issue with Mr Yilwatda’s comment comparing the election to “trailer versus Keke Napep,” calling it a sign of political arrogance and a failure to understand Osun's political landscape.

According to the campaign council, the election will be decided by the people, not by how many governors or lawmakers a party can bring together.

“The people of Osun State are not waiting for political heavyweights from outside the state to decide their future; the electorate is capable of making their own independent choice based on the performance of the government in power,” the statement said.

The council warned that Osun voters should not be treated as political pawns that can be moved by outsiders.

It added that the election will not be a battle between the political machines of the two parties, but between the candidates, their achievements, and their ability to earn the trust of voters.

“The August 15 election will not be a contest between a trailer and a Keke Napep. It will be a contest between a performing Governor who has earned the confidence of his people and an APC candidate who is struggling to gain acceptance among the electorate,” it said.

The campaign team noted that Mr Adeleke has gained a lot of goodwill from Osun residents due to what it called visible achievements since he took office.

They mentioned road construction, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare, water supply, agriculture and youth empowerment as areas where the governor has made progress.

The council believed that the governor’s record will matter more to voters than the political heavyweights the APC is bringing in.

They questioned the APC’s choice to depend heavily on political leaders to rally support for their governorship candidate, Munirudeen Oyebamiji.

The council described Mr Oyebamiji as weak and not popular. They argued that the APC’s reliance on big political names shows that the candidate cannot gather enough support on his own.

“Instead of boasting about the number of governors and National Assembly members being sent to Osun, the APC should tell the people what its candidate can offer. The people are interested in real issues, achievements and trustworthy leadership, not political catchphrases,” the statement said.

This latest statement adds to the lively political scene ahead of the August election.

In recent weeks, TICC has increased its campaign activities and expanded its political structure. In July, Mr Adeleke approved changes to the council to include notable former APC members who joined the Accord Party.

The council said this move is to bring the new members into their campaign and mobilization efforts.

With less than three weeks to the election, both the APC and Adeleke’s camp are stepping up their grassroots efforts across the state.

With the election date now confirmed for 15 August, the focus will likely remain on the records of the current government, the APC’s promises of a new government, and how both parties can turn their political support into votes on election day.