Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson for Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, has asserted that the Accord Party has emerged as a formidable and popular platform as the 2026 elections approach. He claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is increasingly obsessed with attacking Accord due to its newfound electoral strength.
In response to remarks by Hon. Wole Oke, calling for the deregistration of the Accord Party, Rasheed criticized the lawmaker, saying that he has become a “laughing stock” as he attempts to satisfy the interests of Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, the former governor of Osun.
Rasheed lambasted Oke for advocating what he described as illegal measures, pointing out that the Accord Party has rapidly gained traction since its unveiling by Governor Adeleke. He charged Oke to accept the repercussions of his political shifts and the resultant isolation from his former constituents.
He questioned why the APC is fixated on either removing Accord from the electoral registry or preventing Adeleke from participating in the gubernatorial race. “If the APC is so confident in its electoral strength, they should engage the electorate instead of sabotaging the Accord,” he contended.
Rasheed further accused the APC of financially strangling Osun State by withholding local government allocations as part of a scheme to suppress voters. He labeled such tactics as undemocratic and detrimental to democracy.
Highlighting the achievements of Governor Adeleke, Rasheed pointed out improvements across various sectors, including primary health care, education, sports, and infrastructure. He noted that Osun has advanced notably in NECO and WAEC rankings and that significant investments have been made in agriculture, road construction, and public-private partnerships.
He challenged the APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to present the party’s record from 2018 to 2022, contrasting it with Adeleke’s accomplishments since taking office. “The citizens have experienced both governance and maladministration. They recognize the difference,” Rasheed stated.
He called for a policy debate between Adeleke and Oyebamiji, urging the APC to abide by democratic principles and allow the electorate to make a fair choice. Rasheed concluded that the APC should prepare for the verdict from voters on August 8, 2026, when he expects they will reject the party and its candidate.
