Kehinde Fajobi
The Osun State Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Tosin Odeyemi, has cautioned the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Umar Ganduje, against making remarks that could incite political tension in the Southwest.
Odeyemi’s warning followed Ganduje’s recent comments during a visit to Akure, Ondo State, where he expressed confidence that the APC would win future elections in Oyo and Osun states.
This visit came after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa the winner of the Ondo governorship election.
In a statement released on Monday in Osogbo, Odeyemi criticised Ganduje’s remarks, calling them reckless and unbecoming of an elder statesman, especially during a time of economic hardship under the APC-led government.
“One would have expected Dr. Ganduje to demonstrate better communication skills befitting his position,” Odeyemi stated.
“With the economic challenges Nigerians are facing, who would willingly vote for the APC? Ganduje should not be carried away by what transpired in Ondo State.”
He alleged that the APC’s success in Ondo was tied to vote-buying tactics, which he claimed were enabled by the deliberate impoverishment of citizens.
Odeyemi called on political leaders to prioritise peace and respect voters’ decisions, stressing that Osun residents are politically astute and will not tolerate electoral malpractice or intimidation.
“Osun people are wise and peace-loving. Each party must allow voters to decide freely. Ganduje must not turn the Southwest into a war zone. Spoken words carry weight, and 2026 must be crisis-free in Osun,” he said.
The NNPP chairman also challenged Ganduje to test the APC’s popularity in his home state, noting that the NNPP had previously defeated the party by a wide margin there.