Politics

OYETOLA, K-RAD, AND BASIRU: ACO’S FICTION COLLAPSES UNDER THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY

Published by Akinwale Fakinlede on July 18th, 2026.

OYETOLA, K-RAD, AND BASIRU: ACO’S FICTION COLLAPSES UNDER THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY

By Musibau Akinyemi

In two recent videos, a Facebook commentator known as ACO alleged that certain forces are plotting to remove Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru as the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and that Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, SAN (K-Rad), was introduced into the Osun governorship race to undermine Basiru’s ambition. However, a review of the political history surrounding the key actors exposes the weakness of these claims.

As far back as 2017, when Basiru was still serving as a commissioner under the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, K-Rad and the late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke had already emerged as prominent APC governorship aspirants. K-Rad subsequently contested the 2018 APC governorship primary against Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and challenged the outcome in court. He later withdrew the case at the appellate stage following the intervention of party elders. He also voluntarily chose not to participate in the 2022 governorship contest.

The obvious question, therefore, is: how can a politician whose governorship aspiration predates Basiru’s by several years suddenly be portrayed as a tool introduced to weaken him?

Equally unfounded is ACO’s claim that Oyetola is working to have Basiru removed as APC National Secretary. The facts suggest otherwise. Oyetola neither opposed nor obstructed Basiru’s emergence as National Secretary. On the contrary, he entrusted him with the strategic role of Director-General of his 2022 re-election campaign and also supported his bid for a second term in the Senate.

Notably, ACO failed to provide any evidence to support his allegations – no official APC resolution, no presidential directive, no communication from Oyetola, and no credible documentation. Political competition should not be mistaken for persecution. Basiru is entitled to pursue his political ambitions, just as K-Rad and every other qualified APC member are entitled to pursue theirs. Osogbo, Osun Central, and Osun State do not belong to any individual political tendency.

It is also instructive that when K-Rad appeared to be the leading aspirant from Osogbo for the Osun Central Senatorial ticket, Hon. Akintunde Adegboye was introduced into the race. At the time, questions were raised about whether the objective was to dilute K-Rad’s support base within Osogbo.

Similarly, Basiru was serving as National Secretary when K-Rad and several other governorship aspirants – including Iyiola Omisore, Babajide Omoworare, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Benedict Alabi, and Babatunde Oralusi- were initially disqualified during the APC governorship screening exercise in 2025. The affected aspirants protested the decision, prompting intervention by the party leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The disqualification was subsequently reversed, a communiqué was issued, and the aspirants eventually rallied behind the consensus arrangement that produced Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) as the party’s candidate.

The more pressing concern within the APC appears to be the suspicion that some political actors are already positioning themselves for contests beyond the August 15, 2026 governorship election. There is growing speculation that certain interests fear an AMBO victory could delay or complicate their own governorship ambitions ahead of 2030. Such perceptions have fueled concerns about possible attempts to weaken the party from within.

For some, political ambition appears to have eclipsed collective interest. The mentality seems to be that if the opportunity does not belong to them, it should belong to no one. If they cannot dictate outcomes, the structure itself must be destabilised. Such a disposition does little to advance party unity or electoral success.

Those who genuinely support AMBO should focus on mobilising support for his candidacy rather than manufacturing enemies, promoting conspiracy theories, or distracting party members with speculative narratives.

There are also lingering concerns within political circles regarding Basiru’s alleged anti-party activities, his relationship with Senator Iyiola Omisore, and reported contacts with individuals linked to the Ademola Adeleke administration and the Accord Party. These allegations remain unproven and should be treated as such. However, it is noteworthy that ACO ignored these issues entirely while presenting Basiru as the victim of a grand political conspiracy.

The President and other national leaders of the APC have access to extensive sources of information and are unlikely to rely on social media campaigns to assess the loyalty or conduct of party officials. Constant claims that everyone is plotting against one individual may reveal more about political insecurity than political reality.

Ultimately, ACO’s videos amount to an unconvincing attempt to portray K-Rad, Oyetola, and other APC leaders as antagonists in a manufactured plot against Basiru. The historical record tells a different story.

K-Rad’s governorship ambition predates Basiru’s. He contested the 2018 primary, challenged the outcome through lawful means, embraced reconciliation, and later participated in the process that produced AMBO as the party’s consensus candidate.

The APC will not reclaim Osun State through personality cults, propaganda, social media theatrics, or conspiracy narratives. It will do so through unity, discipline, truth, reconciliation, and collective mobilisation.

Those genuinely committed to the party’s success must prioritise victory in 2026 over personal calculations for 2030. Political propaganda may shape temporary perceptions, but history has a longer memory. In the end, facts endure long after narratives have faded.

Musibau Akinyemi Member, All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward 2, Osogbo Local Government, Osun State