Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has accused former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, of plotting to disrupt the August 15 governorship election over what he described as fear of defeat.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, who said opposition elements within the Osun APC were attempting to subvert the will of the people after realising their chances at the polls were slim.
The governor alleged that Oyetola and his preferred candidate had resorted to desperate measures aimed at frustrating the electoral process following what he described as rejection by the people of the state.
He stated that the opposition had begun exploring anti-democratic means as a last resort to secure power ahead of the election.
The statement further claimed that opinion polls commissioned by the APC between the last quarter of 2025 and March 2026 placed the party’s popularity below 30 per cent, while Adeleke’s approval rating ranged between 68 and 72 per cent.
According to the statement, the figures indicate strong public support for the governor, a development it described as unsettling for the opposition.
The statement also linked the opposition’s alleged desperation to recent remarks by Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi on the position of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the Osun election, which it said ruled out any form of federal interference.
It noted that the clarification heightened concerns within the Oyetola faction of the APC, as it signalled that the election would be decided solely by voters.
The governor’s spokesperson further accused Oyetola and his allies of previously attempting to regain power through various failed strategies.
He alleged that the opposition orchestrated the local government crisis to stall development, attempted to create conditions for a state of emergency, and sponsored harassment and arrest of government supporters, all of which he said were unsuccessful.
The statement also claimed that efforts were made to prevent Adeleke from contesting the election, including attempts to influence the Independent National Electoral Commission, which did not succeed.
It added that moves to destabilise other political platforms and calls for deregistration of parties were part of the opposition’s strategies, which it maintained had also failed.
The statement stressed that the opposition’s actions were driven by fear of electoral defeat, insisting that the people of Osun would determine the outcome of the election through the ballot.
It added that attempts to undermine the democratic process were aimed at denying citizens their constitutional rights.
The governor expressed confidence of victory in the August 15 poll, attributing it to popular support and divine favour.
