Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke may defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the 2027 general elections, according to sources familiar with the ongoing political realignment in the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Sources who spoke to Leadership disclosed that Adeleke could join the ruling party alongside his supporters, a move that would reportedly position him as the APC’s leader in Osun State.

One source close to the political arrangement argued that Adeleke’s electoral performance had made him one of the most influential politicians in the state, including within the APC.

The source noted that the governor had defeated the APC twice in previous elections, questioning whether any of the party’s prominent figures could challenge his political influence.

“He has defeated us (the APC) twice. Even without federal might, he won convincingly. So, who will stand in his way?” the source asked.

The source also questioned the electoral strength of other leading APC figures in the state, mentioning former governor Adegboyega Oyetola, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru and former party National Secretary Iyiola Omisore.

“Is it Oyetola, who could not win his senatorial district, or Bashiru and Omisore, who are already positioning themselves for the next governorship ticket?” the source said.

According to the source, Adeleke has emerged as a dominant political figure in Osun, with an influence that could reshape the APC’s leadership structure if he eventually joins the party.

“By every consideration, Adeleke has become the leader, not only in the state but also in our party,” the source added.

The source further alleged that President Bola Tinubu had previously wanted Adeleke to contest the last governorship election on the APC platform, but some party leaders opposed the proposal because they believed they could secure victory without him.

“Recall that the President wanted him to be our flag bearer in the last governorship election, but those who believed they could win opposed him. What was the outcome, despite the enormous amount we spent on the election?” the source said.

However, the reported possibility of Adeleke defecting to the APC after the 2027 general elections remains an unconfirmed political claim attributed to sources familiar with the discussions.

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has reportedly instructed members of his political group, the Alubarika Group, to collaborate with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke under the new political arrangement in the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to reports, Basiru gave the directive during a meeting with members of the group in Osogbo on Thursday.

A member of the group, who spoke to Leadership, disclosed that the APC national secretary urged them to work with Adeleke, citing the governor’s electoral influence and his appointment as coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Osun State.

The source said, “Our leader (Basiru) said we should work with the governor. His position was the position of all of us because the governor is also the coordinator of the President’s re-election campaign in the state.”

Meanwhile, Adeleke’s inauguration of a 344-member Tinubu campaign council on Thursday has exposed divisions within the APC’s Osun State chapter.

Several prominent party figures were absent from the event, including the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the party’s 2026 governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Others who did not attend were the Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye; and the member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke.

Hours before the inauguration, the state APC had complained that Governor Adeleke’s camp failed to consult the party adequately, describing the arrangement as an attempt to create divisions within its ranks.

Despite the disagreement, several prominent APC leaders attended the event, including former Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande, Basiru and former APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Speaking at the gathering, Akande argued that the party had lacked direction until Adeleke assumed responsibility for coordinating the President’s re-election campaign in the state.

Basiru, who described himself as the most senior political officeholder in southern Nigeria by virtue of his position, called on party members to set aside their differences and support the governor.

He maintained that Tinubu’s decision to appoint Adeleke as campaign coordinator should take precedence over personal interests and political ambitions.

Basiru said, “It is in President Tinubu’s wisdom that he chose Governor Adeleke as his campaign coordinator in Osun. For us in Osun State, irrespective of our feelings, ambitions, or scheming, we must abide by President Bola Tinubu’s vision and support Governor Ademola Adeleke to succeed in this exercise.”

He added, “There is no ambition or ego that is greater than ensuring President Bola Tinubu is re-elected. We must support the President to succeed for a second term.”

The political realignment comes against the backdrop of Tinubu’s defeat in Osun State during the 2023 presidential election.

At the time, Atiku Abubakar, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured 354,366 votes, while Tinubu received 343,945 votes.

The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has disbanded a tactical team operating in Ikorodu and detained four officers following the circulation of a viral video allegedly showing them harassing a young man in Odogunyan.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The command disclosed that the officers, identified as members of the Imota/Immortal Tactical Team, would face disciplinary proceedings over the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, announced the development in a statement on Friday, explaining that the officers were identified after an investigation into the viral footage, Naija News reports.

According to Adebisi, the officers were summoned to the office of the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, on Thursday, where authorities decided to detain them and disband the entire tactical team.

She said, “The verdict was that these officers would be detained immediately, pending disciplinary proceedings. Also, the entire team will be disbanded.”

The police spokesperson confirmed that all four officers had been taken into custody for further investigation and disciplinary action.

Three of the officers were presented at the command headquarters in Ikeja, while the fourth remained in custody but was not brought before the media.

Adebisi stated that the officers remained at the headquarters for further questioning and assured the public that appropriate measures would be taken over the alleged misconduct.

“They are presently here at the headquarters for further inquiries, and I want to assure members of the public that we will take appropriate actions against them,” she added.

The spokesperson further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police had repeatedly warned officers against misconduct, emphasising that the command would not tolerate impunity within its ranks.

She stressed that police personnel were expected to perform their duties with integrity, professionalism and humility.

The Lagos State Police Command also expressed appreciation to community members who helped identify the officers featured in the viral video, urging residents to continue reporting cases of police misconduct.