- promises to sustain good governance
By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has reaffirmed the resolve of the people of the state to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2026 governorship election, declaring that he will emerge victorious over that party’s candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, through the support of God and the people.
“I will defeat Oyebamiji by the Might of God and the will of the people to sustain continuity of good governance and people-centred leadership in Osun State,” the governor declared.
Adeleke was reacting to statements credited to a former Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, at the APC governorship primary held on Saturday.
He described the minister’s optimism about APC’s purported victory as wishful thinking, illusory grandstanding, and a failure to appreciate what he termed the party’s deep unpopularity among Osun voters.
Describing the Oyetola administration as an anti-people era in the state’s history, Adeleke recalled the condition of Osun State when he assumed office in 2022, branding the period as a dark chapter in Osun’s socio-political history—one which workers and other segments of the population do not wish to revisit.
The governor, who expressed confidence in the mass support behind his re-election bid, criticised the APC for allegedly engaging in anti-democratic practices instead of campaigning and presenting its programmes to the electorate.
“If you are confident of having the support of the people, why resort to anti-democratic means to suppress the will of the electorate? It is shameful that those who claim popularity are afraid to face the people in a free and fair election,” he said.
Speaking on Sunday through his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke described APC’s claims as a clear misreading of political realities in Osun State, insisting that residents are satisfied with the responsive and people-oriented governance delivered by his administration.
“Osun citizens are enjoying a government that prioritises workers’ welfare, infrastructural renewal, healthcare delivery, education, and inclusive development. There is no appetite to return to the era of hardship, neglect, and anti-people policies associated with the APC’s 12-year rule in the state,” the statement said.
The governor further accused Oyetola and the APC governorship candidate of playing central roles in what he described as the mismanagement that plunged the state into economic distress, characterised by half salaries, mounting debts, and poor service delivery.
“Osun will not go back to the dark days,” he declared.
Governor Adeleke noted that his administration is actively reversing past damages and restoring dignity to governance, as evidenced by various national recognitions and awards, including Osun State’s recent emergence as winner of the South-West Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge.
He added that the strong performance of his administration across critical sectors has earned the trust and confidence of the people, who are determined to protect the gains of good governance at the polls.
“As the August 8, 2026 governorship election approaches, the people of Osun understand that a vote for the APC and its candidate represents a return to past failures—a regression they are unwilling to accept,” the governor stated.
Adeleke reaffirmed his commitment to sustained delivery of democratic dividends and urged residents to ignore political propaganda, assuring them of his administration’s continued focus on people-centred development.
