Osun 2026: Imole Campaign Council dismisses Yilwatda’s boast

The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has dismissed the boastful claim by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, that the party’s deployment of governors, National Assembly members, local government chairmen. and other political heavyweights will overwhelm Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

The Campaign Council described the APC National Chairman’s “trailer versus Keke Napep” analogy as a clear demonstration of political arrogance and an indication that the APC leadership is yet to understand the realities of the Osun State political landscape.

The Council reacted to Yilwatda in a statement signed by the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam.

The Council said the APC should be reminded that elections are won by the people and not by the number of governors, National Assembly members, or political office holders a party can assemble.

Salam said: “The people of Osun State are not waiting for political heavyweights from outside the state to decide their future, the electorate are capable of making their own independent choice based on the performance of the government in power.

“The APC National Chairman may have assembled what he calls a political trailer, but he should understand that the people of Osun State are not political cargo to be moved around by outsiders. 

“They are the owners of the mandate, and they alone will determine who governs them.

“The August 15 election will not be a contest between a trailer and a Keke Napep. 

“It will be a contest between a performing Governor who has earned the confidence of his people and an APC candidate who is struggling to gain acceptance among the electorate.

“The reality on the ground is that Governor Ademola Adeleke enjoys tremendous goodwill among the people of Osun State because of the visible achievements of his administration. 

“His record in road infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare, water supply, agriculture, youth empowerment and other critical sectors speaks directly to the people.

“The APC governorship candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji is obviously weak and unpopular, the decision of the APC to rely heavily on political figures from outside Osun is an indication of its candidate’s inability to independently mobilise the people.

“Rather than boasting about the number of governors and National Assembly members being deployed to Osun, the APC should tell the people what its candidate has to offer. 

“The people are interested in issues, performance and credible leadership, not political metaphors.

“We urged the APC to respect the intelligence of the Osun electorate and focus its campaign on issues and credible alternatives rather than relying on boasts about political structures and external mobilisation.”

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖