Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun and Anambra states are growing uneasy over President Bola Tinubu’s apparent closeness to their state governors, recent reports reveal. They warn that such ties could jeopardize the chances of APC candidates in the upcoming governorship elections.
In Osun, tensions peaked when Governor Ademola Adeleke, accompanied by his brother Deji Adeleke and nephew Davido, visited the President at his Lagos home on June 3. This followed an earlier meeting on May 20 between Adeleke and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Party insiders say these meetings fuel speculation of Adeleke’s possible defection to the APC—and have estranged allies of former governor and Minister Gboyega Oyetola.
At a press briefing led by former Osun House Speaker Timothy Owoeye, APC leaders declared Adeleke unwelcome in the party, accusing him of a “desperate” plot to switch affiliations out of fear of losing the PDP primary. Spokesperson Kola Olabisi echoed the skepticism: “If he’s confident in the PDP, why is he hobnobbing with the national leader of the APC?”
Osun PDP spokesperson Oladele Bamiji dismissed the APC’s concerns, calling their grievances arrogant: “A governor can’t meet with the President? They may be lazy and know they can’t win an election fairly, so they’re seeking a presidential advantage.”
Meanwhile, an anonymous APC insider warned against another Oyo State-style scenario—where Tinubu supported opposition governor Seyi Makinde over his own party’s candidate in 2023. “We don’t want Adeleke to steal the fruits of our labour,” they said, stressing that APC’s hard work should not be undermined. The Osun gubernatorial election is set for August 6, 2026.
Why Adeleke met Tinubu
Governor Adeleke’s team says the meeting centered on resolving Osun’s local government funding crisis—triggered by court orders, worker strikes, and withheld allocations. An aide explained, “He met the President to seek a soft landing in the forthcoming local government elections—and assure fair play in the governorship race.”
Anambra echoes similar tensions
In Anambra, President Tinubu’s May 8 visit to inaugurate projects under Governor Chukwuma Soludo drew criticism within the APC. Some interpreted it as presidential endorsement of Soludo, though party leaders quickly denied any formal alliance.
Anambra APC chairman Basil Ejidike said their candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, met with Tinubu to quash rumors. Deputy Publicity Secretary Osita Ibeh affirmed: “Tinubu has not entered any alliance with Soludo or APGA. APC is Tinubu and Tinubu is APC—we will win on our own.”
The Anambra governorship election is scheduled for November 8, 2025.
