Osun 2026: APC, PDP clash over Adeleke’s screening

The political atmosphere in Osun State intensified on Thursday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) traded words over the screening of Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

According to reports by Daily Post, Governor Adeleke was screened at the PDP National Secretariat, Legacy House, in Abuja, alongside other governorship aspirants. The closed-door session was attended by top party leaders, including the South West Vice Chairman, Kamarudeen Ajisafe; Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi; Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye; and Commissioners Dr. B.T. Salami and Rev. Bunmi Jenyo.

Speaking after the exercise, Governor Adeleke expressed confidence in his administration’s performance, declaring that his government had fulfilled its promises to the people of Osun State.

“We have delivered good governance to our people in Osun. Our records and popularity are unmatched. We are ready for victory come 2026,” he said.
“We have the full backing of our people. Elections are about voters, and we know Osun residents love us. We trust in God and in our people that we will secure re-election overwhelmingly.”

Adeleke also commended the Federal Government for its commitment to ensuring a credible electoral process, stating that his administration’s achievements had earned national recognition.

However, in a swift reaction, the Osun APC dismissed the PDP screening as a “face-saving exercise” following what it claimed was Adeleke’s failed bid to defect to the opposition party.

In a statement issued by the APC Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party accused Governor Adeleke of running a “shallow and mediocre administration.” It urged him to begin preparing his handover note ahead of the 2026 polls.

The APC alleged that over ₦60 billion had been spent on the Governor’s Office within 35 months “without employing a single teacher in state-owned schools.” It also accused the Adeleke administration of neglecting education funding, forcing tertiary institutions to arbitrarily hike tuition fees.

“No fewer than 32,000 citizens were duped of their hard-earned money under the guise of teacher recruitment,” the statement claimed.

The APC described Adeleke’s tenure as one marked by “misgovernance, misplaced priorities, vengeance, and waste of resources.” It further alleged that the governor had made several unsuccessful attempts to join the APC — claims that both Adeleke and the PDP have consistently denied.

“Today’s kangaroo screening is merely a smokescreen to save Adeleke from the embarrassment caused by his rejection by the APC,” the statement read.
“Information at our disposal shows he was recently seen at the Presidential Villa, pleading for a soft landing to join our party.”

The APC concluded that no political platform could save the governor from electoral defeat in 2026, asserting that Osun residents had already “screened him out” based on his performance.

“The biggest challenge facing Governor Adeleke is the array of highly qualified governorship aspirants in our party who are each capable of defeating him,” the statement added.

Declaring readiness to reclaim Osun in 2026, the APC said the upcoming election would be Adeleke’s to lose, given the “poor and unfriendly public perception of his administration.”