The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked a political firestorm, accusing the state government of systematically blocking opposition campaign advertisements as the 2026 governorship race heats up.
In a sharply worded statement released on Friday, the 26th of December, 2025, the State Chairman Tajudeen Lawal alleged that the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke is leveraging state institutions to silence the opposition and tilt the electoral scales.
The APC claims that the state’s signage regulatory agency (O’ Signage) received high-level instructions to deny the party space for promotional materials in key metropolitan areas. According to Lawal, this directive is a calculated strike against the visibility of the APC and its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The party alleges that O’ Signage was told to stop approving APC billboards in Osogbo, specifically from the “Akoda axis to the Osogbo City Stadium corridor.”
The APC also claims the government has moved to secure existing billboard slots for the next three years by compensating current owners, a move they describe as highly suspicious and politically motivated.
Regarding the specific instructions given to the agency, the statement noted:“The state government allegedly instructed O’ Signage Agency not to approve the erection or pasting of APC billboards within Osogbo, particularly along the Akoda axis to the Osogbo City Stadium corridor, for a specified period leading to the election.”
Chairman Lawal did not mince words, characterizing the alleged policy as a blatant abuse of incumbency designed to “suffocate” the APC’s outreach efforts.
“The directive is oppressive, unlawful and aimed at stifling opposition activities,” he said.
The APC leadership maintains that such actions violate the core tenets of fair play and the right of every political entity to engage with the electorate without administrative hindrance.
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Invoking national standards, the APC pointed out that these alleged local restrictions contradict the guidelines set by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). To ensure the situation does not escalate into a security crisis, the party has formally reached out to national law enforcement.
“We want to put all statutory security agencies on notice, including the Police, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to be aware of this development,” Lawal said in the statement.
As of the time of reporting, the Adeleke administration has not offered a rebuttal. Efforts to reach Olawale Rasheed, the Governor’s spokesperson, were unsuccessful as he did not return calls or messages regarding these specific allegations.
Despite the alleged blockade, the APC insists its campaign will proceed, vowing that its candidate will remain active and present throughout the state.