A member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State will struggle to secure victory, insisting that he cannot deliver his own local government in the forthcoming election.
Salam, who represents Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency, made the assertion on Wednesday during a political programme on Channels Television.
He stated that the APC candidate is politically weak and would be unable to win even his local government, Irewole, expressing doubt over the party’s chances across the state.
The lawmaker added that the people of Osun State are prepared to re-elect Governor Ademola Adeleke, noting that the governor has strengthened his popularity since the 2022 election.
He maintained that Adeleke has justified the mandate given to him by the electorate and has gained broader acceptance through his administration’s focus on the welfare of the people.
Salam also reacted to the recent transfer of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state to Ondo, describing the move as partisan and lacking justification.
He argued that such a decision, taken in the middle of election preparations, raises concerns about the integrity of the process, as significant groundwork is usually undertaken by electoral officials ahead of polls.
The lawmaker further dismissed comments made by the Director General of the APC governorship campaign committee, Oluwole Oke, on the performance of the current administration.
He stated that Oke may not be fully aware of developments in the state, citing ongoing infrastructure projects, including road and bridge construction in various local government areas.
Salam noted that some projects, which had been abandoned for several years, are now being executed by the Adeleke administration, adding that such efforts have contributed to the governor’s growing support base.
He also challenged critics of the administration to undertake an independent assessment of projects across the state, insisting that visible development is taking place in key areas.
The lawmaker added that if opposition figures are dissatisfied with the concentration of projects in cities such as Osogbo, Ede, and Ile-Ife, they should openly communicate their stance to residents of those areas.
He reiterated that the current administration remains focused on delivering development across the state and expressed confidence that voters would make their decisions based on visible performance.
