I’m not worried over gov’s plan to defect to APC, says aspirant, Ogunbiyi
A youth group, Osun Progressive Youth (O-SPY), yesterday, called on President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to reject any defection move by Governor Ademola Adeleke into the party, dismissing claims that he enjoys massive support in the state ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
The group said that the APC’s support base in the state had grown stronger since Adeleke assumed office in 2022 due to what they described as his unimpressive governance style, which has weakened the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement by its Coordinator, Tunmise Ajiboye, the group recalled that the PDP had continued to lose key members, including former aides and loyalists of former governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to the APC since 2022.
MEANWHILE, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC in Osun State, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, yesterday, said he had no cause to worry over speculation that the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, was planning to defect to the APC ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial poll in the state.
Ogunbiyi, who stated that though Adeleke had repeatedly denied any plan to dump the PDP, said that he was not bothered if the governor decided to join APC, stressing that what is paramount is for his party to win next year’s governorship election.
He spoke in Osogbo at the APC’s secretariat shortly after officially declaring his intention to vie for the party’s ticket.
He said: “I am not worried at all that the current governor is coming to the APC. The APC is the winning team and we can see what is happening at the federal level about what the President is doing. I am not surprised that not even in Osun State, people across other states are declaring for APC because it is a winning team.”
“I’m not afraid that anybody is coming to APC. He’s a serving governor and he can come to APC, no problem. What is important is to wrestle power from the PDP in Osun State. All the aspirants are in one accord to ensure that this happens.
He, however, expressed optimism that his chance of getting the APC ticket was bright, stressing: “I believe I stand as a unifying factor in Osun State. I enjoy a lot of goodwill and you can see what is happening today. People come from all the local councils to come and show solidarity for me. My chances are very high.”
Ogunbiyi, who hails from the Ile-Ogbo community in Osun West Senatorial District, said that the legacy projects being implemented by the Federal Government would secure a second term for Tinubu.
