Osun APC to Adeleke: our ticket is not for sale

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State yesterday said its 2026 governorship ticket is not for sale.
The chapter described itself as a party to beat in next year’s poll, stressing that it does not need Governor Ademola Adeleke’s support to achieve victory.
APC chieftain and former Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Timothy Owoeye dispelled the rumour of defection by the governor.
The governor, who visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos along with his elder brother, Adedeji, and his musician-nephew, Davido, also clarified that he had no plan to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Owoeye, who spoke at the Tinubu/Shettima campaign office in Osogbo, the state capital, predicted success for the APC in future polls.
He said: “I’m saying this categorically that APC tickets are not for sale. As a matter of fact, as of today, we don’t see Adeleke as a member or part of APC as a party. Let me be sincere with you, the APC in Osun is the party to beat.
“I want to tell you that if not because of the fear of the unknown that is disturbing the Adeleke family and the PDP, they wouldn’t have been showing the intention of coming to the APC.”
He added: “We have been saying this times without number that APC in Osun, if not because of the brigandage that followed the 2022 election and that of 2023, we shouldn’t have had elected PDP officials across the state.
“Now that the Adeleke family has seen that their tenure is already terminated, come August 8, 2026. We are driving away the PDP from the Osun government, and we want to appeal to our people to remain calm. There is no space for PDP or Adeleke in the APC.”
However, Adeleke media aide, Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke remains a bonafide PDP member in Osun state.
He added: “The media speculation about likely or imminent defection is fake news. Governor Adeleke remains a member and leader of the PDP in Osun State.’’
“The visit by the Adeleke dynasty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a routine courtesy visit. Any reading of the defection agenda into the visit is mere fake news.”