Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has thrown a dramatic political bombshell just days before Saturday's Osun State governorship election, declaring that the contest is not between Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress, but a direct battle between the incumbent governor and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Momodu, who is a member of the ADC but has publicly endorsed Adeleke, made the remarks on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, setting the political stage ablaze with his bold assertion that the APC lacks the political strength to match Adeleke in the state.
"The battle in Osun is not a contest between Adeleke and the APC; it is between Adeleke and President Bola Tinubu. APC is no match for Adeleke in Osun. Everybody agrees on that. They can make all the noise and all the hulabaloo, but I can tell you today that even the Presidency knows, and I have a lot of friends in APC, they know they cannot match Ademola Adeleke," Momodu declared. The publisher of Ovation International, who described Adeleke as a close friend and "twin brother" – both men were born three days apart in May 1960 – said his decision to back the governor despite his party affiliation was influenced by his commitment to opposition coalition and his longstanding relationship with Adeleke.
Momodu's intervention is particularly striking given that the ADC has its own candidate, Najeem Salaam, in the August 15 election. In an unusual plea, Momodu appealed to his party to allow him to campaign for Adeleke despite the ADC's participation in the poll. "But I'm a democrat. If my party says they are not ready to back him, that is fine. On this occasion, they should please loan me to Ademola Adeleke. I'm begging them to do that," he said. The ADC chieftain explained that he joined the party because of its advocacy for opposition parties to work together, adding that his support for Adeleke was consistent with that objective.
The former presidential aspirant also accused unnamed political actors of subjecting Adeleke to what he described as "bullying" and "intimidation," urging Nigerians across political affiliations to support the governor. "He's being bullied, he's being intimidated, and all men and women of good conscience should rise up whether you are in our party or wherever," Momodu said. He praised Adeleke's performance as governor, insisting that his support would have remained unchanged even if he did not belong to the opposition party. "Even if I was not in ADC, I would still have supported Ademola. He's a fantastic soul. Only a wicked man will see the good work he has done in Osun State and ignore it," he declared.
The ADC chieftain did not spare President Tinubu in his address, urging the President to intervene amid the growing political tension surrounding the election. "President Bola Tinubu, if you're watching me, I am begging you. We are embarrassed. Everywhere we go, people ask us, 'What is wrong? What happened? What went wrong?' Once upon a time, you fought for democracy, so what has gone wrong? This change about power by all force is unnecessary," Momodu said. He commended Tinubu for what he described as his intervention in the freezing of the Osun State Government's account, saying such actions could help restore confidence in the President's democratic credentials. However, he also warned against political violence, urging Tinubu to restrain individuals allegedly invoking his name to threaten political opponents. "The people are dropping your name to kill people. The blood will be on your head at the end of the day. Someone must be able to tell you the truth that this is absolutely unnecessary," he warned.
Momodu's comments come amid heightened political activity in Osun State ahead of Saturday's election, with Governor Adeleke seeking a second term in office and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji emerging as his major challenger. The election has been marked by rising tensions, with allegations of political violence, police harassment, and intimidation of opposition supporters. The ADC chieftain's declaration that the election is a battle between Adeleke and Tinubu rather than the APC has added a new dimension to the political discourse, framing the contest as a test of the President's influence against the governor's grassroots popularity.
For Momodu, whose political journey has seen him shift from presidential aspirant to vocal supporter of an opposition candidate, the decision to back Adeleke is both a personal and political statement. His appeal to the ADC to "loan" him to Adeleke underscores the fluidity of political alliances in Nigeria's electoral landscape, where personal relationships and ideological commitments often transcend party lines. As Osun State prepares for the August 15 poll, Momodu's bold declaration has set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested election, with the eyes of the nation fixed on the outcome that could shape the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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