Politics
Osun 2026: Adeleke will defeat Oyetola again if he’s APC candidate — Aide
The Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Muniru Raji, has criticised former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, describing him as the weakest possible opponent in the forthcoming 2026 governorship election.
Raji, who made this known in a podcast, Lero Temi, in Osogbo, added that Oyetola, who is the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, would be soundly defeated if he should be adopted as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2026 Osun Governorship Election.
He made this known on the backdrop of the clarification of the defection rumour involving Governor Adeleke and the adoption of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.
He said, “Adegboyega Oyetola is the easiest candidate to defeat in any guber election. If the APC decides to make him their flag bearer, I assure you that Governor Adeleke will defeat him soundly once again.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke defeated him in 2022. If he comes out again in 2026, Governor Adeleke will defeat him once again.”
Raji also disclosed that Governor Adeleke has no intention of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite recent political developments in the state.
Raji, who held that defections from political parties are normal occurrences in Nigerian politics, added that when Adeleke assumed office as governor, all elected political office holders were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Defection is normal. But I want you to know that when Adeleke became governor, the PDP did not have any elected political office holder in office but the APC,” he said.
He emphasised that the loyalty of the electorate outweighs the importance of elected officials.
Raji noted that the voters have continued to express their support for Adeleke and his re-election ambitions.
“The elected political office holders are not as important as the electorates. They have been backing Adeleke since 2018, 2022, and even now, ahead of the 2026 governorship election, we have their solid backing.
“The electorates have assured us of their votes. Those that have resigned from the party have their reasons for leaving. Maybe they have seen that their ambition is more important than those of the electorates that voted for them,” he added.
While confirming Governor Adeleke’s plan to seek re-election under the PDP in the 2026 governorship election, Raji said, “Adeleke will contest again under the PDP in 2026.”
He also dismissed the alleged internal crisis within the national leadership of the PDP, particularly the issue involving the position of the party’s National Secretary.
“The issues with the PDP at the national level with reference to the National Secretary have been resolved. They have resolved to work with the candidate that the Independent National Electoral Commission recognised. So, Adeleke is not leaving the PDP.”
Addressing speculations that the governor had met with APC chieftains regarding a possible defection, Raji firmly denied such claims.
“I can assure you that Adeleke did not meet with any APC members,” he stated.
Raji, however, stated that Governor Adeleke and the PDP in Osun would support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“In 2027, Adeleke and the PDP will vote for APC and Tinubu as President. This is because the president is losing his support base in the North. We are voting because Tinubu is a Yoruba man from the South.”
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ADC’s membership card was officially presented to Melaye in his office by leaders of the Kogi State chapter of the party.
Dino Melaye, a former Kogi West Senator, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
ADC’s membership card was officially presented to Melaye in his office by leaders of the Kogi State chapter of the party.
The former lawmaker disclosed this in a video he posted on his X handle on Thursday.
The membership card was presented to Melaye by the ADC leader in Kogi State, Kingsley Temitope alongside, the state Secretary, local government chairman, secretary, Ward Chairman, and Secretary.
Donning an attire with the inscription of ADC, Temitope said, “I present to Distinguish senator Dino Melaye the membership card of African Democratic Congress.
“He is a full member and has started contributing to the party even before we presented him with the membership card.”
Responding, Melaye wrote: “SDM fully ADC.”
SDM fully ADC pic.twitter.com/ZtytRFa6ly
— Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@_dinomelaye) July 31, 2025
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A former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Nicolas Felix, has dismissed the newly formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress as no threat to President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Speaking in Suleja on Thursday during the distribution of thousands of litres of fuel to Nigerians, Felix expressed confidence that Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election with no less than 15 million votes.
On July 1st, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, APC’s 2023 presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi, and other opposition figures launched the ADC as a unified opposition platform to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Reacting, Felix maintained that while there’s nothing wrong with opposition leaders forming a coalition, he believes they will eventually fall apart just as easily as they came together.
He said, “In a democracy, you must have opposition. We are not threatened. They are out there campaigning. So far, we have not heard anything they want to do anyway.
“So for us as a party, I don’t see any threat here. There is no threat in this coalition. We want them to coalesce. Like I said the other day, they will gather, but they will scatter because they have nothing to offer. Their intention is not pure. Their motive is not pure.
“As far as we are concerned and the APC, come 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is going to have nothing less than 15 million votes. We know that is going to happen. So there is no threat from the ADC or whatever coalition. Let them come. When the time comes for campaigns, we are going to roll out the scorecard of Mr President.
“Didn’t you watch on TV this morning students on campuses singing, celebrating with joy, who just received the NELFund grant, over N100 billion, with no interest, by the way. I lived in America for 21 years; I had never heard that happen. Over N100 billion given to 600,000 students. So these 600,000 students, they will vote. Their families will vote because they know what it takes to go to school. So we are excited, and we know come 2027, it is going to be a walkover for us.”
He stated that his decision to regularly distribute free fuel to Nigerians is his way of supporting the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The ex-presidential aspirant stated, “We are giving out free fuel to the community. As you know, this is our Renewed Hope season. We are just doing this to put smiles on the faces of the people.
“There is no other motivation, but we just want to give back to the community. We did this in 2023 in Edo State, and we did it here also, and we decided to come back here to make the people happy. As you can see, they are all smiling. We are giving them hope.
“This outreach is for everybody, but we know those who need it more. So, I am even more excited seeing the Okada riders because we believe, you know, I would be surprised if I see a G-Waggon here coming to take free fuel. This is more for the Okada and Keke riders. So anybody that comes, we will be able to, you know, just put smiles on their face. We are just giving back. That is what it is all about.”
Also speaking, APC Deputy National Women Leader Zainab Ibrahim stated that the party is pushing for sthe wift passage of the Special Seats Bill currently before the National Assembly, calling it a potential game changer for women in Nigeria.
She noted that, for the first time, the Ministry of Women Affairs has received over ₦100 billion in budgetary allocation to pursue its key goals and assured that Nigerian women will stand firmly behind the president in 2027.
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Former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, citing the party’s inability to provide credible leadership and deliver good governance to Nigerians.
In a resignation letter shared on his official X account on Thursday, dated July 4, 2025, and addressed to the chairman of the PDP in Ward 1, Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Melaye announced his immediate withdrawal from all party activities.
“I hereby tender my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party at all levels of involvement.
“This decision has become imperative due to the lack of potency and capacity by the party to deliver the Nigerian people from the prevailing political cankerworms that have eaten deeply into the fabric of our dear nation”, the letter partly read.
Melaye, who once served as the PDP’s candidate in the 2023 Kogi State governorship election, said his decision followed deep reflection on the party’s current state and trajectory.
“Having carefully reflected on the state of the party, I can no longer in good conscience participate in the activities of the parties or lend my support to her agenda”, the letter continued.
He further requested that his resignation be treated as a formal and total withdrawal from all party levels and structures.
“In view of the above, please consider this as my formal withdrawal from the party and all its activities at all levels with immediate effect”, the letter added.
In his closing remarks, Melaye expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve under the party’s platform during his time as a member.
“Thank you for the opportunity to serve under the platform during my period of membership,” the letter concluded.
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