Billboard Sparks War of Words Between Osun APC and Governor Adeleke’s Camp

A seemingly innocuous billboard featuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ademola Adeleke in Iwo, Osun State, has ignited a fierce political exchange between the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led state government.

The billboard, which bears the inscription “Continuity of Progress” and is credited to a little-known group called “Osun Leaders of Thought,” was reportedly erected in the early hours of Wednesday. However, its placement and messaging have quickly escalated into a full-blown political squabble.

APC: “It’s Fraudulent and Deceptive”

Reacting to the billboard, the APC in Osun, through its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, condemned what it called a “fraudulent use” of President Tinubu’s image alongside that of Governor Adeleke. The party called the billboard a “political heresy” and accused Adeleke’s allies of attempting to sell an “unsellable” political product by creating a false sense of affiliation with the President.

“This is the absurd playing of dirty politics taken too far,” Olabisi stated. “There could not be any acceptable reason for this billboard other than a flagrant display of irreverent attitude orchestrated by political Jews with a mission to compare the sky with the ground.”

The statement also disassociated the APC from what it described as a “nose and eye sore,” claiming the billboard misrepresents the political landscape in a region traditionally seen as an APC stronghold.

Adeleke’s Camp: “APC Is in Crisis Mode”

Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, swiftly responded, dismissing the APC’s outrage as evidence of deeper internal crises within the party, extending even to the Presidency.

According to Rasheed, the APC’s anger over the billboard reflects their anxiety over the governor’s rising popularity and his recent achievements—particularly in international diplomacy and investment drives.

“The opposition is confused about the groundswell of support for Governor Adeleke across party lines,” Rasheed said, highlighting the governor’s recent cultural tourism agreement with the British Museum and growing ties with the Nigeria-UK Chamber of Commerce.

He accused the APC of “ranting over billboards from non-governmental groups” while ignoring the tangible progress being made in governance and development under Adeleke’s leadership.

Beyond the Billboard: A Deeper Political Battle

While the billboard itself may seem trivial, the exchange reveals broader political tensions in Osun State. With Governor Adeleke gaining visibility both at home and abroad, and with federal acknowledgments reportedly flowing in, the APC appears increasingly wary of a shifting political tide.

The controversy also speaks to the complex relationship between regional leaders and the presidency, especially when party affiliations do not align. Governor Adeleke, a PDP governor, being visually linked to APC leader and President Tinubu, adds a layer of political intrigue that both sides are leveraging—albeit with sharply contrasting narratives.

For the APC, it’s a matter of protecting the image and brand of the President from what it sees as opportunistic appropriation. For Adeleke’s team, it’s a sign of his expanding influence, one that transcends party lines and resonates with the public.

What’s Next?

With both camps digging in, and with the general public watching closely, this controversy may have just added another layer to Osun State’s already dynamic political atmosphere. Whether the billboard remains or is taken down may ultimately matter less than the political capital each side manages to extract from it.

One thing is clear: in Osun politics, even a billboard can be the spark that lights a firestorm.