Osun governorship race heats up as Ademola Adeleke accuses APC of threats

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has criticised members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state over claims that they might use federal influence to win the upcoming governorship election.

Adeleke said federal power should be used to govern the country and help citizens, not to manipulate elections.

He spoke on Saturday in Osogbo during a meeting with leaders and officials of the Accord political group from the state’s 332 wards.

The governor warned that any attempt to scare voters before the August 15 governorship election would not succeed.

He also accused the Osun APC of wrongly bringing the name of the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, into discussions about using federal institutions to influence the election.

According to Adeleke, the president is more focused on governing the country and improving development rather than interfering in the state election.

He mentioned federal projects such as the reconstruction of the Ibadan–Ilesa road and the student loan programme as examples of how federal power should be used.

Adeleke said neither the president nor top leaders around him support threats from the Osun APC about interfering in the election.

He encouraged people in Osun State to stay alert and participate in the election, saying the voters will decide who wins.

He added that only people who want to cheat in elections boast about rigging.

During the meeting, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, asked party leaders to increase grassroots mobilisation and ensure that votes are protected.

Senator Olu Alabi also urged community leaders across the state to prepare to support Adeleke’s re-election.

Other party leaders, including Wale Oladipo and the Osun chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunday Bisi, also expressed support for the governor and encouraged party members to mobilise voters across the state.

Meanwhile, the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, said his party will not depend on federal power to win the election.

Speaking in Osogbo during a Ramadan lecture organised by Muslim groups, he said the APC has been consulting traditional rulers and residents in all 30 local government areas of the state.

Oyebamiji said the party will continue to work hard and meet with people across the state until they have the opportunity to lead Osun State.