As political temperatures rise ahead of the August 8, 2026, Osun State gubernatorial election, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sharply criticised the Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, for publicly declaring support for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s bid for a second term.
The controversy erupted following an interdenominational prayer service held earlier this week at the Governor’s Office, where Arapasopo vowed that organised labour and state workers would mobilise massively to ensure Adeleke – now the flagbearer of the Accord Party – secures re-election.
Arapasopo justified the endorsement by highlighting the governor’s “laudable” welfare policies for workers and pensioners, prompt implementation of infrastructure projects, and positive impacts across key sectors of the state’s economy. He described Adeleke’s administration as worker-friendly and deserving of continued support to sustain progress.
However, the APC wasted no time in condemning the NLC chairman’s stance. In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC described Arapasopo’s actions as “shameful” and “deplorable,” accusing him of turning himself into an unofficial campaign manager for the incumbent governor.
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The statement read in part: “The show of shame embarked upon by the highly partisan Osun State NLC chairman during the interdenominational service… when the supposed number one labour leader in the state turned himself into the campaign manager of the governor was a testimony to the fact that he has not only sold out to the incumbent governor but is a gross misfit for such an exalted position.”
While acknowledging that Arapasopo has the personal right to affiliate with any political party, the APC argued that openly committing the collective votes of the state’s workforce to Adeleke’s re-election crossed ethical boundaries for a labour leader. The party suggested that Arapasopo’s behaviour either stems from poor advice from his advisors or a deliberate choice for personal benefits from the current administration.
“It stands logic on its head when Arapasopo shamelessly and openly vowed for the collective votes of the workforce in the state… Since Arapasopo has tied the philosophical grains of corn round his waist, he must be ready to be the playmate of fowls,” the statement added, implying he should now be viewed as a political opponent rather than a credible labour representative.
The clash underscores deepening political divisions in Osun as the August 8 off-cycle governorship poll approaches. Governor Adeleke, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party late last year, is seeking continuity based on his administration’s record. Meanwhile, the APC – which lost power in 2022 – is positioning itself as the main challenger, with its candidate eyeing a return to power.
Analysts say the public endorsement from labour could bolster Adeleke’s grassroots appeal among civil servants, but it risks alienating other segments of the workforce and drawing accusations of partisanship from opposition quarters.
The APC has called on Arapasopo to refocus on labour issues rather than partisan politics, warning that his actions could undermine the neutrality expected of trade union leadership in a politically charged state like Osun.
As campaigns intensify, both sides are expected to leverage such incidents to rally their bases in the battle for the “State of the Virtuous.”
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