The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the reported kidnapping of Shakiru Babatunde, a Special Assistant to Governor Ademola Adeleke, was staged as part of a plan to blackmail the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and heat up the political atmosphere in the state.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, by the Osun APC Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi.

The development followed reports that Babatunde, 26, allegedly staged his own kidnapping in an attempt to extort money from government officials.

According to reports surrounding the incident, the alleged scheme was uncovered after a government official who was contacted over the purported abduction raised concerns and involved the police.

Babatunde was subsequently reportedly traced to a hideout and arrested by officers attached to the Dugbe Division in Osogbo. A source cited in reports on the incident alleged that the aide confessed to staging the kidnapping after being taken into custody.

The incident has since generated significant attention, with the Osun APC accusing the state government of initially using the purported kidnapping to implicate the opposition party.

According to the APC, some officials of the state government had announced Babatunde’s alleged abduction on social media and blamed the opposition APC for the incident.

The party further alleged that the purported scheme was designed to portray the APC as responsible for insecurity in the state and create negative public sentiment against the Federal Government under President Tinubu.

The APC also alleged that the incident was intended to undermine the political prospects of the Tinubu administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party called on the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim D. Zungura, to ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated and that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“We are appealing to the State Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ibrahim D. Zungura, to pay particular attention to this case to serve as a deterrent to future criminal acts,” Olabisi said.

The Osun APC also maintained that deliberately staging a kidnapping constitutes a criminal offence and urged the police not to allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.