Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is parading unelectable aspirants, any of whom Governor Ademola Adeleke will soundly defeat in the 2026 governorship election, his spokesman, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said on Thursday.

His remark was in response to statements credited to two APC aspirants in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Prince Dotun Babayemi, over the state of governance in the state ahead of the poll.

The spokesperson accused the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, Senator Omisore, and Prince Babayemi of launching their campaigns on the wrong notes by attacking a sitting governor with over 75 percent approval and popularity rating.

The statement reads: “From A to Z, Osun APC guber aspirants are politically deficient politicians who cannot by any stretch of imagination match the sterling records of Governor Ademola Adeleke in less than three years in office or pose any electoral threat to the re-election of the Governor in 2026.

“Senator Omisore must first thank Governor Adeleke for constructing the road that passes through his family house at Ile-Ife which was left unattended to for years. At least, the Governor should be appreciated even on this alone.

“Ile Ife people may also want to know why Ife stadium and waterworks were abandoned even when Senator Omisore has all the opportunities to complete them.

“Ife people appreciate the major development Governor Adeleke is bringing to Ile Ife through several internal roads and the flyover that are opening up the economic heart of Ifeland.

“Governor Adeleke is developing Ile Ife without any abandoned project. If the Governor’s first term is this good, the people of Ile Ife know the second term will be even better.

“Aside Senator Omisore, Osogbo people have quietly told their son, the National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Bashiru to forget any support for the 2026 race. Governor Adeleke is celebrated by the Osogbo people as the development champion of the capital city with a huge goodwill and support for 2026.

“Another APC aspirant, Prince Dotun Babayemi, with a weak political footing, entered the race with a public gaffe by condemning the massive infra projects at Osogbo. By that ill-advised rhetoric, Osogbo people must have marked the Gbongan politician for electoral punishment now and in the future.

“A collapsed bridge divided the ancient town of Gbongan by 2022, when Governor Adeleke assumed office. Not only was the bridge reconstructed, critical road projects were also executed. The traditional council commended the governor for his thoughtfulness. Prince Babayemi cannot claim ignorance.

“Mr. Babayemi committed a practical error by failing to accept the Oke Fia intersection and Lameco junction as major traffic points, a fact recognised by critical stakeholders in urban development.

“The other aspirant from Ikire, Biodun Oyebamiji, is attempting to ride on the back of another politician who was defeated while serving as an incumbent governor.

“None of the listed aspirants and others from the APC has the goodwill, the records of achievements and the entrenched political structure of Governor Ademola Adeleke,” the spokesperson stated. (Nigerian Tribune)