The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), which is coordinating the re-election campaign of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has launched a scathing attack on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, over the recognition of Christopher Imumolen as a factional National Chairman of the Accord Party.
The campaign council also mocked the APC over the absence of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from the party’s campaign rally in Osun State, arguing that the development exposed what it described as the lack of political enthusiasm surrounding the APC and its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
TICC made the allegations in a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, and signed by its Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Representative Bamidele Salam.
The council said Yilwatda’s recognition of Imumolen had inadvertently strengthened concerns that the APC was allegedly involved in efforts to factionalise opposition political parties across the country, including the Accord Party.
TICC described Imumolen as an individual who had been “parading himself as the factional National Chairman of the Accord,” insisting that his recognition by the APC leadership was an indication of what it called the party’s desperation ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
“The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has chided the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, over the recognition and fake endorsement of one Christopher Imumolen, who has been parading himself as the factional National Chairman of the Accord, describing the development as an admittance of the unpopularity of Osun APC and her candidate, Bola Oyebamiji,” the council said.
According to the campaign council, the development was particularly embarrassing because the APC had mobilised governors and senior party leaders to Osun State for what was presented as a major campaign rally, yet the purported endorsement of Imumolen allegedly became one of the most notable political developments associated with the event.
TICC claimed that Imumolen was not recognised by what it described as the “authentic Accord family in Osun and across Nigeria,” arguing that the APC’s dealings with him raised questions about the party’s strategy ahead of the election.
The council alleged that the development exposed the level of concern within the APC over Governor Adeleke’s political strength and popularity.
It maintained that instead of focusing on the APC candidate, his manifesto and plans for Osun State, the ruling party was allegedly concentrating on creating divisions within opposition parties.
The campaign council also turned its attention to the absence of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from the APC rally.
TICC said the absence of the President and Vice President, alongside what it described as the non-attendance of the overwhelming majority of governors reportedly mobilised for the event, “speaks volumes about lack of enthusiasm surrounding the APC campaign in Osun.”
The council argued that the attendance of only a few governors could not conceal what it described as weak grassroots enthusiasm for the APC campaign.
According to TICC, some of the governors who attended appeared to have been motivated largely by their loyalty to the APC national leadership rather than by any “organic political momentum” in Osun State.
The council further claimed that the APC leadership at the national level was aware of what it described as the growing acceptance of Governor Adeleke among voters across the state.
It alleged that this awareness had contributed to what it described as attempts to resort to “political manipulation, factionalisation and manufactured endorsements” ahead of the election.
TICC also attacked APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, describing him as a “stooge” of former Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
The council alleged that Oyebamiji’s candidacy represented an attempt to return the same political interests that it claimed the people of Osun had rejected during the previous election.
It further claimed that Oyebamiji, like his political associate Oyetola, had already been rejected by voters in the state.
TICC said Osun residents had moved beyond what it described as the “politics of the past” and had instead embraced what it called the performance-driven leadership of Governor Adeleke.
The council challenged Yilwatda and other APC leaders to campaign on their candidate’s record and programmes rather than allegedly attempting to manufacture divisions within opposition political parties.
TICC maintained that the authentic Accord structure, led by Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem, remained united behind Governor Adeleke.
It said voters across Osun State were not confused about the party and candidate they intended to support, insisting that the alleged recognition of a factional Accord leadership would not alter the political choices of residents.
The council also called on the APC to respect the democratic process and allow voters to freely choose their next governor without what it described as “intimidation, manipulation or interference.”
It maintained that the people of Osun had repeatedly demonstrated that they valued competence, performance and good governance over political theatrics.
TICC further argued that no amount of what it described as “staged endorsements” could erase the achievements it credited to Governor Adeleke or diminish his chances of securing another term.
The council urged supporters of the Imole movement and residents of Osun State to remain peaceful, resolute and vigilant as the state approaches the governorship election.
It assured voters that the campaign organisation remained focused on securing the re-election of Governor Adeleke and called on residents to exercise their franchise peacefully.
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, with Governor Adeleke seeking re-election against candidates including APC’s Bola Oyebamiji.