Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed claims that the Presidency pressured Governor Ademola Adeleke to defect to the party, describing the allegation as illogical and contrived.
In a press statement issued by Kola Olabisi, the Osun APC Director of Media and Information on Thursday, the party faulted comments attributed to former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who had alleged that Adeleke confided in him about facing intense pressure to join the APC.
Former governor Oyinlola had made the disclosure during an interview on Arise News Channel’s Prime Time Show on Sunday evening.
Oyinlola claimed the governor once became emotional over the purported pressure.
Responding, the APC said the position of Governor Adeleke as relayed by Prince Oyinlola was at variance with the witnessed development in the party where all the entreaties of the incumbent Governor Adeleke to defect to our party met a brick wall.
“The statement credited to Adeleke… was indicative of the fact that he was brazenly telling packaged lies to the former governor in order to curry unmerited sympathy,” the party said.
The opposition party further claimed it was publicly known that the governor had been making efforts to defect but had met resistance.
“It would not be difficult to believe that Adeleke was only overpricing himself by dropping the name of some people as putting pressure on him,” the statement added.
The APC also questioned whether the governor might have been misled by individuals posing as political intermediaries.
“What is the business of our party if Governor Adeleke had fallen victim of some political scammers who might have fleeced him?” the party queried.
The party challenged the governor to name those allegedly pressuring him, insisting the claim lacked substance.
“We challenge Governor Adeleke to disclose the identities of the faceless entities that have been putting pressure on him,” the statement said, adding that no governor had reported coercion to join the APC.
According to the party, the allegation attributed to Adeleke defied logic and portrayed him as being.economical with the truth.
Osun APC urged the public to disregard the claim, describing it as unfounded and spurious, while also rejecting suggestions that the party was responsible for the Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP, challenges in Osun State and across the country.
The Osun APC has in a public fora distanced itself from any move by Governor Adeleke to join the party.
In a press briefing held in Osogbo in 2025, a party chieftain and former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye insisted that Governor Adeleke was not welcomed in the party.
Owoeye also added that the Osun APC was not for sale to the highest bidder and to the Adeleke family.
However, due to the leadership crisis of the PDP at the national level, Governor Adeleke, his Deputy, Kola Adewusi and members of the state executive council all defected to the Accord party in December 10, 2025.
For More News And Analysis About Nigeria Follow Africa-Press
