Tensions flared in Nigeria’s Osun State this week as the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Adegboyega Oyetola, the federal Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, exchanged sharp accusations over alleged plans to manipulate the 2026 gubernatorial election. The clash underscores growing political rivalries in the southwestern state, with both parties trading claims of electoral interference and institutional misuse.
In a statement issued by Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi, the opposition party accused Oyetola—a former state governor and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—of scheming to undermine democratic processes. The allegations stem from reports of a closed-door APC meeting last week, where Oyetola was said to have claimed the APC lost the 2022 governorship race due to a lack of federal support from then-President Muhammadu Buhari. According to the PDP, Oyetola asserted he had since secured commitments from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Police Force to back the APC in 2026.
The PDP further alleged that Oyetola referenced efforts to redirect local government funds to APC-aligned officials dismissed by court order, warning that state-held funds might remain blocked until after the election. Bisi described these remarks as a “genocidal threat to democracy” and urged President Bola Tinubu to investigate. “Silence from the Minister implies these accusations hold weight,” Bisi said, emphasizing demands for the immediate release of local council funds and adherence to a court ruling recognizing PDP-elected chairs.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, elected under the PDP in 2022, was also cited in the allegations. Oyetola reportedly claimed to have thwarted Adeleke’s potential defection to the APC, framing it as a move to protect party dynamics. The PDP dismissed these claims as fabrications, vowing to resist electoral interference and projecting confidence in Adeleke’s 2026 reelection bid based on “performance and public trust.”
Oyetola’s office swiftly denied the allegations. His media adviser, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, rejected the claims as “reckless propaganda” by a party he said is losing grassroots support. “The Minister has never endorsed electoral malpractice. He cannot control INEC, the Police, or the Attorney General,” Akinola stated, challenging the PDP to provide evidence of the alleged closed-door remarks. The APC, meanwhile, accused the PDP of a smear campaign to divert attention from governance failures in Osun and dismissed references to internationalizing the dispute as “mischievous.”
The standoff highlights simmering tensions over local governance and electoral integrity in Nigeria, where control of state resources and federal influence often shape political strategies. With Osun’s local funds at the center of the dispute, analysts warn prolonged delays could worsen service delivery in one of Nigeria’s most politically active states. As both sides dig in, the rhetoric raises questions about institutional independence ahead of a pivotal election cycle.
