Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A leaked WhatsApp conversation involving a special assistant to the Edo State Governor has ignited fresh political controversy, suggesting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be banking on a court challenge to the Osun governorship election result to force Governor Ademola Adeleke into a political arrangement with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The screenshot, which circulated this morning on social media, shows a message from Felix Eigbefe, who identifies himself as a Special Assistant on Social Media to the Executive Governor of Edo State. In the exchange, Eigbefe wrote: "Osun APC candidate will go to court and if the issue is in Court, Governor Adeleke will want to work for APC faithfully so that APC can win Osun massively for President Tinubu in 2027 because the case can turn if he refuses to deliver Osun state for APC in 2027 election." The conversation was dated August 16, 2026, shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke the winner of the Osun governorship election.
The message was sent from a phone number bearing the "+234 807 *** 5252" prefix, which Eigbefe used to communicate his position.
The conversation sparked a rebuttal from another participant identified as "YK," who questioned Eigbefe's logic. "How do you know if he institutes an action, he would win? or do you not know Adeleke is in a position of strength. and rather him going to APC for help, they would approach him?" YK wrote. "Or those APC videos we see are not enough to ground the claim," YK added, suggesting that evidence of alleged electoral misconduct by the APC could weaken any legal challenge.
The leaked chat comes amid a backdrop of legal manoeuvring by the APC in Osun State. In the run-up to the election, the party had filed a suit against Governor Adeleke over an appointment, and had also sought to capitalise on a Federal High Court judgment that deregistered several political parties, including the Accord Party, to cast doubt on Adeleke's re-election bid. However, Adeleke dismissed those fears and went on to secure a decisive victory, winning 19 of the state's 30 local government areas.
The leaked conversation has raised questions about the APC's strategy following its defeat. While the party has not officially announced a legal challenge to the election results, Eigbefe's comments suggest that some within the party are considering such a move as a way to leverage political influence. By keeping the case in court, the APC could potentially pressure Adeleke to cooperate with the party ahead of the 2027 presidential election, where President Tinubu is expected to seek re-election. Some analysts have previously noted that Adeleke's public endorsement of Tinubu appeared to be driven by his desire to secure a second term.
Efforts to reach Felix Eigbefe for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. The Edo State Government has also not issued an official statement regarding the leaked chat. As the political landscape in Osun continues to evolve, the leaked conversation has added a new layer of intrigue to the post-election period, with observers now watching closely to see whether the APC will follow through on the strategy outlined in the chat.
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