The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of misleading the public with claims of securing the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his re-election bid.

Oyebamiji, through his media team—the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) Media Fronts—described the alleged claim as baseless and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Coordinator of the group, Adebayo Adedeji, the APC candidate dismissed reports suggesting that President Tinubu had entered into a pact with Governor Adeleke ahead of the poll.

He characterised the rumour, allegedly circulated by associates of the Osun State Government, as a calculated attempt to mislead the electorate and bolster what he described as a weakening public perception of the current administration.

“We state unequivocally that this claim is false, unfounded, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the people of Osun State. It is nothing more than a desperate move to shore up the image of an administration that has failed to deliver purposeful and effective leadership,” the statement said.

Oyebamiji further claimed that the President does not have confidence in Adeleke’s leadership, citing what he described as the rejection of alleged overtures by the governor to defect to the APC.

He also criticised Adeleke’s record on governance, accusing the administration of lacking transparency and accountability.

The APC candidate noted that he recently met with President Tinubu, during which he outlined his vision for the development of Osun State.

According to him, his policy direction aligns with the President’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” particularly in key sectors such as education, agriculture, and infrastructure.

“President Tinubu will not abandon a loyal and credible party man for a candidate seeking an undeserved second term,” the statement added.

Oyebamiji also highlighted his tenure as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), where he claimed to have reduced waterway accidents and fatalities by 73 per cent and increased the agency’s revenue by over 100 per cent within two years.

He argued that these achievements demonstrate his capacity for effective leadership, contrasting it with what he described as the current administration’s “waste and misplaced priorities.”

The APC candidate insisted that claims of any political alliance between President Tinubu and Governor Adeleke exist only in “the imagination of those peddling falsehood.”