By John Dike, Osogbo
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State has petitioned President Bola Tinubu, international and diplomatic communities over a declaration by Marine and Blue Economy minister, Gboyega Oyetola of an alleged plot to rig the state’s coming governorship election.
It described the “brazen declaration” as an “intent to undermine democracy and abuse state power.”
The ruling party in the state, in a statement by its State Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, condemned the alleged rigging plot.
PDP said it waited for over 48 hours for a rebuttal from the minister, but his silence has only strengthened belief in the authenticity of the claims.
According to the statement, Oyetola allegedly told APC leaders:
“I blocked Governor Adeleke from joining the APC. Otherwise, all your ambitions would have been in jeopardy.
“I gave a guarantee to Mr. President that APC can win Osun without Governor Adeleke.
“We lost in 2022 because Buhari refused to instruct INEC and the police to help APC.
“I have secured the cooperation of the police and INEC to ensure APC wins Osun 2026.
“I prevailed on the Attorney General not to recognise the Court of Appeal judgment affirming the PDP-elected local government chairmen and councillors.
“The withheld LG funds will remain blocked until after the 2026 elections, to turn the grassroots against Governor Adeleke.”
The PDP warned that such utterances, if true, signal “a coordinated assault on democratic institutions”
It called on the President to immediately sanction Oyetola for allegedly dragging the federal government into alleged partisan manipulation.
“We are convinced Mr. President is not aware of this open declaration of war on democracy by his cousin,” the statement read.
The party further urged the president to direct the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to immediately obey the Court of Appeal ruling and release the withheld local government allocations to the duly elected PDP chairmen and councillors.
“We are also notifying the international community and members of the diplomatic corps of the dangerous anti-democratic posture of the Minister. Osun people will resist any attempt to hijack their will,” the statement added.
The PDP vowed that Governor Ademola Adeleke will win re-election in 2026 based on his “superlative performance” and “divine mandate,” stressing that the people of Osun would not yield to threats or intimidation.
