Osun APC Members Protest Alleged Plan To Offer Adeleke Automatic 2026 Ticket

 Our Party Is Not for Sale!” – Osun APC Members Protest Alleged Plan to Offer Adeleke Automatic 2026 Ticket

Tensions are rising within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, as members of the party staged a peaceful protest on Friday at the APC Secretariat in Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, to oppose alleged moves to offer Governor Ademola Adeleke an automatic ticket for the 2026 gubernatorial election. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Carrying placards and chanting “Our party is not for sale!,” the protesters called for a level playing field for all potential aspirants, warning against any backdoor endorsement of Adeleke, a sitting governor currently serving under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Protesters Demand Transparency, Fair Play

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved party members, Taofeek Afolabi, a youth leader in the APC, made it clear that they don’t oppose Adeleke’s rumored defection to the APC, but strongly reject any plan to hand him the party’s 2026 ticket without a transparent primary process.

“We are not saying the party should reject Gov. Ademola Adeleke if he joins us, but he must contest fairly like every other aspirant. There should be no automatic ticket,” Afolabi declared.

Other protesters echoed this sentiment, insisting that the APC must uphold internal democracy and ensure a competitive selection of its governorship candidate.

Party Leadership Reacts Cautiously

A party executive, who spoke anonymously, said the demonstration came without official notification and could be misinterpreted as a leadership-backed move.

“We didn’t know they were coming. This kind of protest is not acceptable because it could create the wrong impression that the demonstration was orchestrated or endorsed by the party leadership,” the source told reporters.

Despite the unexpected nature of the protest, it reportedly ended peacefully after several hours without any confrontations or incidents.

What’s Next for Osun APC?

As of press time, the Osun APC leadership had not released an official statement addressing the protest or the swirling rumors of Adeleke being considered for an automatic ticket. The issue is likely to remain a hot topic in Osun political circles as the 2026 election approaches.

Observers believe the party’s handling of the situation could significantly impact internal cohesion, especially with grassroots supporters already voicing dissatisfaction.

Conclusion

The protest sends a strong signal that party members demand due process, even when influential figures like Governor Adeleke are involved. Whether the APC leadership heeds this call for fairness or pushes ahead with behind-the-scenes deals will likely define the party’s trajectory in Osun State ahead of the 2026 governorship election.