Osun State Governor and Accord Party candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday expressed confidence in his re-election ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election, assuring supporters that his party would remain on the ballot despite ongoing legal disputes surrounding its status.
Speaking at the official flag-off of his campaign at Freedom Park, Osogbo, Adeleke described the electioneering process as a divine journey to victory and commended thousands of supporters, party leaders, defectors and interest groups who attended the event.
The governor assured residents that all lawful measures were being taken to protect the constitutional rights of citizens to vote and be voted for, insisting that Accord would participate in the election and emerge victorious at the poll.
Adeleke urged party members and supporters to intensify mobilisation across all polling units in the state, maintaining that Osun must not return to what he described as the dark days of governance. He added that peace and stability must continue to prevail in the state as the cradle of the Yoruba nation.
During the rally, over 200 groups and 10,000 defectors which included several former commissioners, special advisers, former members of the Osun State House of Assembly and other chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ADC defected to the Accord Party.
The governor also revisited the lingering local government crisis in the state, congratulating residents on what he described as a victory against attempts to undermine democratic governance at the grassroots level.
He commended elected local government chairmen and councillors for their patience throughout the dispute and alleged that democratic processes had successfully displaced those he described as impostors from council secretariats.
Adeleke renewed his criticism of security authorities, calling on the Commissioner of Police to withdraw security personnel allegedly protecting individuals occupying local government secretariats unlawfully.
He also accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of collaborating with court-sacked APC council chairmen and demanded full accountability for local government funds.
The governor expressed appreciation to labour unions, pensioners, farmers, market associations, religious bodies, women groups, youth organisations and student associations that had endorsed his re-election bid, describing the endorsements as a vote of confidence in his administration.
Highlighting his administration’s achievements, Adeleke said Osun had recorded significant progress in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, water supply, digital economy development and fiscal transparency since he assumed office in 2022.
According to him, the state moved from 33rd position in national education rankings in 2022 to seventh position in both 2024 and 2025, while also emerging as one of the leading states in primary healthcare delivery and access to potable water.
He further claimed that his administration had reduced the state’s debt burden by more than 40 per cent and improved public sector efficiency.
Seeking a fresh mandate, the governor unveiled an updated five-point agenda centred on youth, women and workers’ welfare, infrastructure consolidation, agro-industrial expansion, affordable healthcare and education, as well as creating a more conducive business environment to generate employment opportunities.
He also reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and urged residents to reject violence, defend democratic values and participate actively in the electoral process.
According to him, “As we seek your votes on August 15th, we also restate our endorsement of our son, father and leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027. Our support for Mr President is unshaken and total.”
