Osun Election: Adeleke, Oyetola Trade Words Ahead of August 15 Poll

The political battle ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election has intensified, with Governor Ademola Adeleke and former Governor Gboyega Oyetola exchanging accusations over the credibility and likely outcome of the poll.

Adeleke has warned Oyetola against any alleged attempt to manipulate the election, insisting that Osun residents will resist any action capable of undermining their democratic rights.

The warning followed comments reportedly made by Oyetola on Saturday while addressing All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and supporters in the state.

Oyetola was reacting to Adeleke’s recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was quoted as saying “A maa gba lowo e,” which translates to “we will snatch it from him.”

Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, described the statement as a threat to the conduct of a free and fair election.

The governor called on national and international democracy organisations to pay close attention to developments in Osun ahead of Saturday’s election, alleging that some political actors were determined to undermine the electoral rights of residents.

Adeleke also rejected the argument that his endorsement of President Tinubu was a sign of political weakness.

According to the governor, his decision to support Tinubu was based on political strength and confidence in his ability to mobilise voters in Osun State.

He further accused Oyetola of engaging in activities that he claimed were damaging the image of the President and contributing to the APC’s declining popularity in the state.

Adeleke also alleged that Oyetola had been coordinating police harassment of members and supporters of the Accord Party, while accusing some elements within the police command of working with political thugs.

The governor said the reported comments by Oyetola had strengthened his belief that the APC had lost the confidence of Osun voters and was looking for alternative means of securing victory.

“The bad news for the minister is that Osun people are determined to resist his sadistic agenda. Our people rejected him in 2022 and they will reject his surrogate candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, next Saturday,” Adeleke said.

He expressed confidence that he would win the election based on what he described as the support of the people.

Oyetola, however, has rejected the suggestion that Adeleke’s endorsement of President Tinubu would protect him from defeat at the polls.

The former Osun governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy told APC supporters that the President’s endorsement was not the issue determining the outcome of the governorship election.

According to reports, Oyetola said Adeleke should be concerned about the performance of his administration and the judgment of Osun voters rather than relying on his relationship with the President.

He also maintained that the APC remained determined to reclaim Osun State and elect its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Oyetola’s latest position comes as the APC intensifies its campaign across the state, with Oyebamiji presenting himself as the alternative to the Adeleke administration.

The APC candidate has promised to focus on economic development, agriculture, infrastructure and equitable distribution of government resources if elected. During recent campaign activities, Oyebamiji also urged voters not to be distracted by reports of possible violence, assuring them that the election should be peaceful.

The contest has also remained deeply personal for Adeleke and Oyetola, who faced each other in the 2022 Osun governorship election. Adeleke defeated Oyetola in that election and is now seeking another term, while the APC has selected Oyebamiji as its candidate for the 2026 contest.

Oyetola has since become a key figure in the APC campaign despite not being the party’s candidate. As Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and a former governor of Osun, he has remained actively involved in efforts to return the APC to power in the state.

The APC has also rejected Adeleke’s repeated allegations that Oyetola and other party leaders are planning to manipulate the election. The party has accused the governor of attempting to create excuses ahead of the poll and urged him to focus on campaigning rather than making allegations against the opposition.

The political tension has increased further following recent controversies surrounding security, alleged political violence and the freezing of Osun State Government accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC said it froze the state government’s account after investigating alleged financial irregularities involving about ₦11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds. The commission said it acted after detecting what it described as suspicious movement of funds from the state’s accounts.

President Bola Tinubu later directed the EFCC to return to court and seek the vacation of the order freezing the accounts, citing concerns about the timing of the action only days before the governorship election.

The development has added another layer to the already tense political atmosphere in Osun, with the Adeleke camp accusing federal institutions of political interference and the APC insisting that government agencies must be allowed to perform their statutory duties.

Meanwhile, both major camps have continued to call for support from voters as the election approaches.

Adeleke is campaigning on his record in office and his claim that Osun residents want continuity, while Oyebamiji and the APC are asking voters to reject the incumbent and return the party to power.

With just days to the August 15 election, the exchange between Adeleke and Oyetola has further highlighted the high stakes surrounding the poll.

The election is expected to attract significant national attention, particularly because of the involvement of President Tinubu, the political history between Adeleke and Oyetola, and the wider struggle between the APC and the opposition in the state.

For voters, however, the central issue remains who will govern Osun for the next four years.

As the campaigns enter their final stage, both sides have insisted that they have the support of the electorate. The final decision will ultimately rest with Osun voters when they head to the polling units on August 15.