Former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the 2026 election is not up for grabs, firmly rejecting any notion of Governor Ademola Adeleke joining the party.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday, Owoeye accused the Osun State Governor and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of contemplating a defection to the APC out of fear of losing the August 8, 2026, election.
“I’m saying this categorically: the APC ticket is not for sale,” Owoeye declared. “As of today, we don’t see Adeleke as a member or part of the APC. The APC remains the party to beat in Osun.”
He further claimed that the PDP’s alleged interest in the APC was driven by fear of electoral defeat, noting that the Adeleke family was already preparing for what he described as the end of their political reign.
Drawing an analogy from the Bible, Owoeye compared Adeleke’s alleged desperation to that of the harlot who wanted a living child divided, implying an attempt to forcefully share or claim what does not belong.
On the issue of withheld local government allocations, Owoeye insisted that the APC still controls the local councils and should therefore dictate how funds are disbursed.
“The APC has the government at the local level. He who pays the piper dictates the tune,” he said, disputing claims that the federal allocation to councils is being withheld. He stressed that due process is being followed and challenged the PDP to tell the public the full truth.
Owoeye also questioned the PDP’s failure to include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its legal action, implying that doing so would expose inconvenient facts.
As political tensions rise ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship race, Owoeye’s comments highlight the brewing battle between the APC and PDP, with both parties gearing up for a high-stakes showdown.
