By John Dike, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has expressed confidence in securing a second term in office, assuring residents that the Accord Party will participate in the August 15 governorship election and that every vote cast will count.
Speaking on Tuesday at the official launch of the Imole Second Term Campaign held at Freedom Park, Osogbo, Adeleke said all necessary legal measures had been taken to protect the democratic rights of Osun citizens and ensure the party’s participation in the poll.
The event, which also featured the reception of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and endorsements from various groups and associations across the state, attracted thousands of supporters and stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, the governor highlighted what he described as his administration’s achievements in education, healthcare, workers’ welfare, water supply, and infrastructure development.
According to him, Osun State moved from the 33rd position in the National Examinations Council (NECO) rankings in 2022 to seventh position in both 2024 and 2025. He also noted that the state won the national Primary Health Care Challenge in two consecutive years.
“We have laid a solid foundation for sustainable development and we are determined to do more if given another mandate by the people of Osun State,” Adeleke said.
The governor also congratulated the PDP-elected local government chairmen and councillors following a Federal High Court judgment dismissing a suit seeking tenure extension for sacked APC council officials.
He urged security agencies to uphold the court’s decision and ensure compliance across the local government councils.
National Chairman of the Accord Party, Barrister Maxwell Ngbudem, formally presented the party’s flag to Adeleke, describing him as a leader whose developmental strides had positively transformed Osun State.
Ngbudem called on residents to support the governor’s re-election bid, saying a second term would enable him to consolidate on the achievements recorded during his first tenure.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Imole Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, described the campaign flag-off as a major milestone in the party’s preparations for the governorship election and expressed optimism that Adeleke would secure another mandate.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director-General of the Campaign Council, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, dismissed concerns over the Federal High Court ruling on the deregistration of some political parties, maintaining that an appeal had already been filed.
He reassured party members and supporters that the Accord Party would remain on the ballot for the August 15 governorship election.
Several prominent politicians who recently defected from the APC, including Jamiu Olawumi, Bamisayemi Oladoyin, Yemi Lawal, and Alhaji Kareem Afolabi, pledged their support for Adeleke’s re-election campaign.
The wave of defections is widely seen as a boost to the governor’s political fortunes as campaigns gather momentum ahead of the August governorship election in the state.
