Adeleke threatens N5bn Lawsuit Against Osun APC For Defamation

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has threatened to file a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. This action follows accusations by the APC that a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun was allegedly planning violent attacks ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

The APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, in a statement on Wednesday, referred to a viral video in which a PDP chieftain allegedly discussed bombing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Osun. The APC claimed that this individual expressed fears about the PDP’s ability to win the 2026 election, suggesting extreme measures to disrupt the process, including using bomb-laced helicopters to kill electoral officers and prevent the collation of results.

Olabisi criticized the silence of the PDP leadership and Governor Adeleke, stating that their lack of condemnation made them appear complicit in the alleged plot. He called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the matter, stressing that preventive action was necessary to avoid election-related violence.

In response, Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson for Governor Adeleke, described the allegations as baseless and defamatory, demanding a retraction from Olabisi. Rasheed announced that the governor had instructed his legal team to prepare a N5 billion lawsuit unless the APC retracts the statement. He also accused the APC of threatening violence in the lead-up to the 2026 elections but emphasized that Governor Adeleke remained focused on serving the people of Osun.

The case has sparked tensions between the ruling PDP and the opposition APC in Osun State, raising concerns about the political climate as preparations for the 2026 governorship election continue.