The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has asserted that the recent Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the Accord Party places Governor Ademola Adeleke’s bid for a second term under serious threat. This comes ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Oluremi Omowaiye, head of the party’s media and publicity committee, the APC campaign council noted that the court’s decision, which also instructs the Independent National Electoral Commission to take appropriate action, holds major consequences for the governor.
The APC expressed its confidence in the judiciary and respect for constitutional processes, but argued that the ruling effectively undermines Adeleke’s candidacy under the Accord Party platform. Unless overturned by a higher court, the governor would be ineligible to contest the election as the Accord Party’s candidate, the statement read.
Beyond the governorship race, the council warned that the judgment could invalidate all candidates fielded by the party for legislative positions at both state and national levels. This development, according to the APC, represents a significant blow to the governor’s political ambitions.
Adding to the complexity, the APC highlighted ongoing legal battles over the legitimate leadership of the Accord Party. If the courts recognize a rival faction, INEC may be unable to accept Adeleke as the party’s officially nominated candidate. The governor’s political troubles, the statement claimed, originate from unresolved legal issues that existed before he joined the party.
The campaign council further alleged that Adeleke’s potential absence from the ballot would deprive voters of the chance to evaluate his administration’s performance. The APC accused the current government of causing economic hardship, failures in education and healthcare, and job losses.
Expanding on allegations of financial mismanagement, the council cited the N99.5 billion Ede Airport project, the alleged diversion of a N2 billion federal grant for buses, salary payments to ghost workers, and other questionable financial practices. It insisted that accountability would remain a pressing issue regardless of the election outcome. The statement concluded, “Even if Governor Adeleke escapes the verdict of the electorate because he is disqualified from the race, he cannot escape the long arm of justice and the inevitable demand for accountability.”
The APC urged Osun State residents to remain peaceful, vigilant, and dedicated to democratic principles as the August 15 election approaches.