The All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Accord in Osun State have exchanged allegations of vote-buying and electoral malpractice ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, with both parties calling for investigations by relevant authorities.

The Osun State chapter of the APC alleged that Governor Ademola Adeleke had concluded plans to induce civil servants, teachers, local government workers and other public servants with a payment of N20,000 each to influence their votes in the forthcoming election.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi on Sunday, the APC claimed the payments would begin reaching workers’ bank accounts from Monday, describing the alleged move as an attempt to secure electoral support.

The opposition party urged workers to reject the “Greek gift”, arguing that the governor had outstanding obligations, including leave bonuses, pension deductions, cooperative deductions, health insurance remittances and trade union check-off dues.

According to the APC, “It is absurd and criminal for the governor to engage in vote buying from all the active government workers in the state which has been outlawed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

The party alleged that some Accord agents were seen in Osogbo distributing N10,000 to prospective voters after allegedly compelling them to swear an oath to support Governor Adeleke in the election.

The APC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the allegations, citing provisions of the Electoral Act relating to vote-buying.

Responding, the Osun State chapter of the Accord dismissed the APC’s claims as false and hypocritical, alleging instead that APC operatives had been buying Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs,nand collecting voters’ Personal Identification Numbers, PIN, across the state over the past two months.

In a statement signed by the Osun Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Babalola Akande, the party maintained that Governor Adeleke had no reason to induce workers because of his administration’s record on salary payments, pensions, promotions and workers’ welfare.

The Accord stated, “Governor Adeleke does not need to buy the votes of Osun workers. He has earned their confidence through prompt payment of salaries, regular pension payments, payment of accumulated promotion benefits owed by the APC as well as half salaries, improved workers’ welfare, promotions, settlement of long neglected entitlements and a consistent commitment to rebuilding the public service.”

The party also alleged that APC-backed operatives had been inducing vulnerable voters with cash and food items while collecting PVC details and voters’ PINs, adding that the alleged incidents had already been reported to INEC and security agencies for investigation.

Both parties however urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies to investigate their respective allegations.

The Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, has commenced consultations with political allies, stakeholders and leaders of his district amid speculation over his possible defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This comes as Senator Hanga was said to have convened a meeting with his constituency coordinators drawn from the 15 local government areas that make up Kano Central, where he discussed the state of his political movement and sought their views on his next political step.

In a statement posted on Hanga’s official social media page, the meeting focused on “key political issues” and the current realities within his political camp.

It was also reported that the embattled senator, who appears to have parted ways with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), briefed the coordinators on recent political developments affecting his political structure.

The statement said Hanga specifically requested the opinion of the grassroots leaders on his political future, “particularly regarding the possibility of moving to another political party,” as part of wider consultations before reaching a final decision.

“The meeting forms part of the senator’s continuous engagement with critical stakeholders in his political family ahead of any major decision concerning his political future,” the statement added.

Although Hanga did not disclose the political party he may be considering, his consultations come at a time of heightened political realignments across Kano State and the country, with several prominent politicians reviewing their alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The senator, who was elected to the Red Chamber on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), reportedly defected briefly to the ADC before later joining the NDC. He has remained a key figure in discussions surrounding the evolving political landscape in Kano.

His latest engagement with constituency leaders came on the heels of similar meetings with Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the National Chairman of the APC, Yilwatda. The consultations signal an effort to build consensus within his political base before making any far-reaching decision on his future.

However, the State Chairman of the NNPP and a diehard Kwankwaso supporter, Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa, was recently quoted as saying that Senator Hanga was planning to part ways with the Kwankwasiyya movement.

“Senator Hanga told me himself that never in his life will he drop his loyalty to Kwankwaso and shun the Kwankwasiyya movement. This he personally confirmed to me”, Dungurawa insisted.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, says President Bola Tinubu was a good man before he became president.
Lawal made this assertion during a programme on Symfoni TV.

According to him, President Tinubu was a good listener, who would do whatever it takes to solve any problem one took to him.

Lawal claimed that Tinubu suddenly changed when he became president, alleging that he was introduced to religious bigots.

“President Tinubu was an excellent human being before he became president. If you’re in a problem, he’ll go to whatever length to solve it. He was a good listener, took advice, and was kind. I used to liken him to Buhari because he was also very kind and sympathetic to people.

“He was an excellent human being, but he went on to become president, and something happened. I know the time he changed, and I told him. Around 2022, Tinubu relocated to Abuja to pursue his presidential ambition, and our people, the northerners who were his friends, surrounded him, and he was caged.

“They introduced him to religious bigots who claimed they knew Buhari, and that was when he started changing. I had access to him then in Abuja.

“He’s someone you can like. Bola has given some people a stupendous amount of money to help them out of crises without expecting anything. But the thing about Tinubu is that he has a gift. He can see your future returns in advance. He does things like that.

“He was a good man at that time, but he has lost his soul now. He’s someone who’s in charge all the time, but he doesn’t look in charge anymore as long as he gets his own share of whatever he’s looking for. The rest they can loot however they want. I wish he could go back to what he was before. Nigeria will be great,” he said.