Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared his readiness to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the August 8, 2026 gubernatorial election, citing what he described as the people’s resolve to sustain good governance in the state.
The governor, in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, dismissed comments credited to former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, at the APC governorship primary, describing the party’s confidence as “wishful thinking and illusory grandstanding.”
Adeleke said the APC remains deeply unpopular in Osun State due to what he termed its “anti-people” record during its 12-year rule, particularly under the Oyetola administration.
According to him, the situation he met on assumption of office in 2022 reflected years of mismanagement, adding that the Oyetola era represented “a dark page in Osun’s socio-political history,” which neither workers nor residents of the state wish to revisit.
The governor accused the opposition of resorting to anti-democratic tactics rather than engaging the electorate, insisting that a party confident of popular support would not be afraid of a free and fair election.
“If you are sure you have the votes of the people, why deploy anti-democratic means to stop the will of the people?” Adeleke queried.
He further stated that residents of Osun are satisfied with his administration’s performance, particularly in the areas of workers’ welfare, infrastructure renewal, healthcare delivery, education and inclusive development.
“The people of Osun are enjoying a responsive, people-oriented government and have no desire to return to an era of hardship, neglect and anti-people policies associated with the APC,” the statement read.
Adeleke also accused the APC and its candidate of playing key roles in what he described as the economic distress experienced by the state in the past, marked by half salaries, mounting debts and poor service delivery.
He said his administration is reversing those challenges and restoring dignity to governance, noting that Osun State has received several recognitions, including emerging as the winner of the South-West Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge.
As the 2026 election approaches, the governor said Osun residents are fully aware that voting for the APC would amount to a return to failed policies of the past, a move he said the people are unwilling to make.
Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his commitment to sustained delivery of democratic dividends and urged citizens to disregard political propaganda, assuring them of his continued focus on people-centred development.
