By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised Governor Ademola Adeleke to start preparing his handover note ahead of the August 8, 2026 governorship election.
The party gave the advice while reacting to the governor’s purported screening by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC said no political “magic wand” could save Governor Adeleke from defeat in next year’s election, citing what it described as his “abysmal performance in office.”
“We are advising the governor to begin preparing his handover note, as no political magic wand can save him from the impending defeat at next year’s polls, given his poor performance in office,” the statement read.
Olabisi said trending photos and videos of the governor’s arrival at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja showed him being assisted by the Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Bunmi Jenyo, in filling what appeared to be screening forms.
The APC recalled that Governor Adeleke had allegedly made several failed attempts over the past five months to defect to the APC, apparently fearing slim chances of securing re-election under the PDP.
According to the party, the governor’s overtures were rejected by APC leadership and members, who described him as an “unmarketable governor” with a poor record in office.
The statement accused Adeleke of running a “shallow and mediocre administration” focused only on himself and a few unproductive cabinet members.
It further alleged that more than ₦60 billion had been wasted on the Governor’s Office in 35 months without recruiting a single teacher, even after about 32,000 citizens were reportedly defrauded in a purported teacher recruitment exercise.
The party also faulted the governor for neglecting the education sector, saying the lack of funding had forced tertiary institutions in the state to impose “arbitrary and exorbitant” fees in a bid to raise funds.
Describing the PDP screening as a “kangaroo exercise,” the APC claimed it was merely a “smokescreen” to cover up the embarrassment caused by Adeleke’s failed defection bid.
“Credible information confirms that Governor Adeleke was recently seen loitering around Aso Villa, lobbying alongside his elder brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke, for a soft landing to join the APC,” the statement alleged.
The party maintained that Osun people had already “screened out” the governor through their disapproval of his three-year-old administration, which it described as being plagued by misgovernance, misplaced priorities, vengeance, and waste of public resources.
“Even though the distraught Adeleke has been screened by a faction of his party to contest the 2026 governorship election, the people of Osun State have already screened him out,” the statement added.
The APC insisted that Adeleke’s failed secret attempt to defect to the opposition party would worsen his political fate.
“One thing is certain — no matter the political platform under which Governor Adeleke contests the 2026 governorship election, he will be roundly defeated by our party,” the statement declared.
According to the APC, the governor’s biggest challenge lies in the “array of super-qualified governorship aspirants” within the APC, any of whom could defeat him “and send him back to Atlanta, USA, or wherever he may have come from.”
“The 2026 governorship election will be a contest for Governor Adeleke and his rudderless, violence-prone party to lose, given the widespread public disillusionment with their poor and unfriendly governance,” the party concluded