Osun Poll: Adeleke Accuses Oyetola of Threatening to Rig Election

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of threatening to rig Saturday’s governorship election.

Adeleke made the allegation in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday, following comments by Oyetola that the All Progressives Congress would reclaim the governorship seat.

Oyetola, a former governor of Osun State, had told APC stakeholders and supporters that Adeleke’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election would not save his administration from defeat in the August 15 governorship poll.

Speaking in Yoruba, Oyetola said Adeleke’s endorsement showed that the governor had realised he was losing support in the state.

“They realised that they are already losing out. Then they claimed to have endorsed us. He almost cried. Endorsement cannot retain this seat for you. We are taking it over.

“If you like, make 10 endorsements, we will collect this one from you,” Oyetola said.

Reacting, Adeleke described the statement as an “open threat” to rig the election and urged democracy advocates to take note.

The governor said the people of Osun would resist any attempt to manipulate the electoral process and demanded a free, fair and credible election.

Adeleke also interpreted Oyetola’s Yoruba remark, “A maa gba lowo e,” as meaning “we will snatch it from him,” arguing that the statement suggested an intention to take the governorship through means other than the voters’ choice.

The governor said his endorsement of Tinubu demonstrated his political strength and his ability to mobilise votes for the President ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

He further accused Oyetola of damaging Tinubu’s image and weakening the APC’s standing among voters in Osun.

“Oyetola’s anti-people, anti-democracy activities are tarnishing the image of Mr President and deepening the unpopularity of Osun APC among voters and residents,” Adeleke said.

He alleged that the minister’s remarks confirmed previous concerns about the conduct of APC supporters ahead of the election.

Adeleke also accused Oyetola of making light of alleged attacks on Accord members and claimed that the APC was seeking to undermine voters’ rights.

However, he maintained that his administration remained confident of victory based on what he described as widespread support across the state.

“As for us, we are winning this election by the grace of God and mass support of the people,” Adeleke said.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, with Adeleke of the Accord Party seeking re-election against APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and candidates of other political parties.