A major political dispute has erupted in Osun State between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state's chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). The conflict centres on the labour leader's public declaration of support for the re-election bid of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Labour Leader's Pledge Sparks Controversy
The controversy began earlier this week when the Osun State NLC Chairman, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, made a significant political statement. During an interdenominational service held at the Governor's Office in Osogbo, Arapasopo vowed that workers in the state would vote massively to ensure Governor Adeleke secures a second term in office. Adeleke is the standard bearer of the Accord Party.
Arapasopo justified this stance by pointing to the governor's laudable welfare policies for workers and pensioners. He also cited the implementation of infrastructural projects and positive impacts across key sectors in the state as reasons for the labour union's resolve to back the incumbent governor in the forthcoming August 8 gubernatorial poll.
APC's Fierce Rebuttal
The APC in Osun State responded swiftly and harshly to the NLC chairman's comments. In a statement issued on Friday by the party's Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC lampooned Arapasopo for what it described as turning himself into a campaign manager for Governor Adeleke.
The party contended that his partisanship ahead of the off-cycle election is deplorable. While acknowledging Arapasopo's right to personally support any political party, the APC argued that vowing the collective votes of all Osun workers was a step too far. The statement characterised his actions as a "show of shame" and suggested he was unfit for the exalted position of a labour leader in the state.
Allegations of Impropriety and Partisanship
The APC's statement went further, implying possible ulterior motives behind the NLC chairman's endorsement. It suggested that Arapasopo's advisors were failing in their duty or that he had chosen to become an "incorrigible entity" in exchange for personal benefits from the Adeleke administration, which the APC labelled as "inglorious and fast-fading".
The party concluded by stating it would no longer regard Arapasopo as a credible labour leader. Instead, it would treat him as a fierce political opponent, accusing him of playing opposition politics more ardently than even Governor Adeleke himself. This sharp exchange sets the stage for a highly charged political atmosphere as Osun State prepares for its crucial gubernatorial election on August 8, 2026.
