Political tension is mounting in Osun ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with Governor Ademola Adeleke accusing the All Progressives Congress of seeking to interfere with the poll following comments by former governor Adegboyega Oyetola. Oyetola, who now serves as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, sparked the controversy while addressing APC stakeholders and […]

Political tension is mounting in Osun ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with Governor Ademola Adeleke accusing the All Progressives Congress of seeking to interfere with the poll following comments by former governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Oyetola, who now serves as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, sparked the controversy while addressing APC stakeholders and supporters in the state. He told party members that Adeleke should brace for defeat as the party intensifies its efforts to regain control of Osun.

The former governor also dismissed any suggestion that Adeleke’s recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election could influence the governorship contest. Speaking in Yoruba, Oyetola insisted that the endorsement would not protect Adeleke from defeat, stressing that the APC remained focused on reclaiming the state.

Adeleke subsequently interpreted the remarks as a possible warning about the conduct of the election and accused the APC of preparing to interfere with the electoral process. In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor urged democracy advocates and relevant authorities to closely monitor Oyetola’s comments as the election draws nearer.

The governor maintained that Osun voters would resist any attempt to deny them the freedom to elect their preferred candidate. He stressed that the constitutional right of the people to vote must be respected, arguing that the winner of the election should emerge through the genuine choice of voters rather than any form of manipulation.

Adeleke also defended his decision to back Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, describing the endorsement as a demonstration of his political influence and capacity to mobilise support for the President. He further accused Oyetola of engaging in activities that could undermine the APC’s image in Osun and potentially affect President Tinubu’s standing.

According to the governor, the situation was particularly disturbing because the comments came from a serving minister, which he said raised questions about the credibility of the forthcoming election. Adeleke argued that the development reinforced concerns that the Osun APC had lost the confidence of voters and was increasingly looking towards electoral manipulation.

Despite the escalating accusations, Adeleke remained confident of victory, saying his administration would rely on the support of Osun residents while allowing them to freely determine the outcome of the poll. With August 15 fast approaching, the exchange between Adeleke and Oyetola has added to the political tension surrounding the election, with both camps projecting confidence in their chances.