By John Dike, Osogbo
A Senior Special Assistant to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Chief Akintunde Bello Sheriff, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not succeed in the August 15, 2026 governorship election in the state.
Sheriff made this known in a statement shared on his Facebook page, where he argued that the strategy being adopted by members of the opposition party would not guarantee victory at the polls.
According to him, many APC supporters appear to be relying heavily on external political figures rather than presenting a clear and convincing manifesto to the electorate ahead of the election.
The governor’s aide referenced political developments in Kogi State, noting that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan secured electoral victory despite the influence of former governor Yahaya Bello.
He also recalled the 2014 governorship election in Osun State, when several prominent politicians including Ayo Fayoae, Musiliu Obanikoro, and the departed Buruji Kashamu visited the state to support an opposition candidate who eventually lost the election.
Sheriff argued that voters in Osun have historically demonstrated independence in their voting decisions and have consistently resisted attempts at electoral manipulation.
He maintained that any strategy relying on alleged election rigging would fail in the 2026 governorship contest.
“For some of us who have been around for some time, the posture of APC supporters in Osun is not surprising. If you ask an average APC member today about their manifesto, they would tell you that Yahaya Bello is coming to help install their candidate.
“They seem to have forgotten that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan won an election in Kogi despite Yahaya Bello’s influence. If elections were that easy to manipulate, Natasha would not be in the Senate today,” Sheriff said.
He added that Osun voters have consistently resisted external interference in the state’s electoral process, stressing that such tactics would not succeed in the forthcoming election.
OoSheriff had earlier addressed issues surrounding the extension of voting into the night in some parts of Ede during the 2022 Osun governorship election.
Speaking on a State Affairs programme anchored by Edmund Obilo, he stated that Governor Adeleke had never been afraid of any electoral contest and maintained that the 2022 election was conducted during the day and closely monitored by both local and international observers.
According to him, reports from election observers indicated that the poll was free, fair and credible, with Adeleke emerging victorious through a legitimate process.
He explained that the extension of voting into the night was in line with electoral regulations, which allow voters who were already on the queue before the official closing time to complete the voting process.
Sheriff clarified that while no new voters were permitted to join the queue after the stipulated closing time, those already accredited were legally allowed to cast their votes even if the process continued into the night.
He further noted that the outcome of the election was challenged at the election tribunal, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, but the cases were dismissed, thereby affirming Adeleke’s victory.
According to him, the governor’s emergence was validated by the will of the people and upheld through the judicial process.
