Business mogul and elder brother of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Dr Adedeji Adeleke, has alleged that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, did everything possible to prevent his younger brother from winning the August 15 governorship election.
Adedeji, father of music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and proprietor of Adeleke University, Ede, made the allegation on Sunday evening at a gathering in Ede to celebrate the governor’s re-election.
Dr Adeleke’s comments comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke of the Accord Party winner of the election with 511,067 votes, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dr Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.
Speaking at the celebration, Adedeji said he had prayed and fasted for divine intervention because of what he described as intense hostility towards his brother.
“The outcome of the election is a result of answered prayers. God has done wonderfully well for us. God has defended us from those that are stronger than us and those that hated us with so much passion that they don’t care what happens to us, whether people died or lived, just because they want to remove Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun.
“But God has other plans. Now they know that there is only one God, and no man is God. Shout hallelujah to that. Every day, every week, I use two days to fast in a week for him, and I ask God to help him. The hostility was too much. Oyetola visited everything…”
He urged supporters to continue praying for the governor.
Calls and messages sent to Oyetola seeking his response to the allegation were not answered as of press time.
Keep Meeting Osun People’s Needs, Obasanjo Tells Adeleke
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday night paid a surprise congratulatory visit to Adeleke at his country home in Ede.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said Obasanjo, accompanied by Otunba Fasawe, was received by Adeleke with dancing and songs of praise.
Obasanjo prayed for the governor and urged him to sustain good governance and deliver the dividends of democracy.
“Continue to deliver good governance. Continue to meet the needs of your people,” he charged.
Adeleke thanked the former president and pledged to remain committed to the people of Osun.
“Baba, I thank you for this surprise visit. I promise never to disappoint God, the people of Osun and all lovers of democracy who made our victory possible,” he said.
The deputy governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, accompanied Adeleke in receiving Obasanjo.
Organised Labour Celebrates Adeleke, Backs Tinubu for 2027
Meanwhile, organised labour and retirees in Osun State yesterday celebrated Adeleke’s re-election at the main gate of the state secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.
The workers sang solidarity songs and danced in celebration.
Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, attributed Adeleke’s victory to his achievements and his administration’s disposition towards workers and pensioners.
“Whatever Mr Governor is seeing today is just a result of his good deeds towards workers and pensioners. Welfarism is always a force as far as governance is concerned,” he said.
Arapasopo urged Adeleke to fulfil the promises made during the campaign and declared the support of Osun workers and pensioners for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027.
He also commended Tinubu for allowing the people’s votes to count, recalling that he had earlier appealed to the president to ensure a free and fair election in the state.
The chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Abimbola Fasasi, described Adeleke’s victory as a reward for the goodwill he built during his first term.
He urged workers to reciprocate the governor’s support through greater dedication and called on Adeleke to do more for the workforce in his second term.
Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Comrade Olamilekan Adediran, said Adeleke’s victory reflected workers’ and residents’ satisfaction with his administration, particularly its attention to welfare and pensioners.
Aregbesola Congratulates Adeleke, Appeals for Unity
For his part, former Osun State governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has congratulated Adeleke on his re-election.
In a statement on his X handle, Aregbesola said elections were moments when citizens exercised their sovereign right to choose their leaders, adding that the people’s decision must be respected.
“I therefore extend my best wishes to Governor Adeleke as he prepares to commence another term in office,” he said.
He urged Adeleke to see the victory as a renewed mandate to unite the state, deepen development and govern with fairness and humility.
Aregbesola also appealed to political actors, supporters and citizens to allow Osun to move forward in peace and unity.
He commended ADC members for their commitment during the campaign and praised the party’s candidate, Dr Najeem Folasayo Salaam, for his conduct.
“Dr Salaam has conducted himself with dignity throughout this contest. His campaign represented our tradition and conviction that politics should be about ideas, competence, character and service to the people.
“I commend him for the maturity with which he has received the outcome of the election and for putting the peace and unity of Osun above personal ambition.”
Aregbesola urged ADC members to remain united and committed to good governance, accountability, justice, competence and service to the people.
He also called on Adeleke to extend “the hand of fellowship” to all political tendencies and make his second term more inclusive.
Senate Leader Urges Adeleke, Opponents to Unite
Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly South-West Caucus, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has urged political stakeholders in Osun to accept the election result and unite for the state’s development.
Bamidele said Adeleke’s re-election demonstrated the supremacy of the people in a democracy and urged all contestants to respect the outcome.
He called on Adeleke to reunite the state across political divides and extend a hand of fellowship to opposition parties.
“While politics is often driven by allegiance to political parties, governance requires a collective approach that accommodates every section of society,” he said.
The Senate leader urged Oyebamiji to congratulate Adeleke and share policy ideas that could contribute to the state’s development.
He also called on political opponents to “sheathe their swords” and work for peace and effective governance.
Bamidele said the APC should view the outcome as an opportunity to reassess its strategy ahead of 2027, particularly by improving voter mobilisation, political collaboration and engagement with artisans, traders, farmers, youths, women, labour unions, civil society, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
He also urged the party to communicate the Tinubu administration’s economic, security and development policies more effectively.
Bamidele commended INEC for the conduct of the election and congratulated Adeleke, stressing that his re-election came with “a huge responsibility that demands a collective approach to governance.”
He also commended Oyebamiji and the APC, saying the election had not made them losers but stakeholders in Osun’s future.
APC Must Confront Bitter Truths Before 2027 – Youth Leader
In his own post-election reaction, the national louth leader of the APC, Dr Dayo Israel, has stated that the party must confront “bitter truths” ahead of the 2027 general elections following its defeat in Osun.
In a statement on his X handle, Israel congratulated Adeleke and the people of Osun while commending the APC candidate, members, agents and volunteers.
He said the margin of victory required honest reflection rather than excuses or blame-shifting.
“That margin is substantial enough to demand honest reflection, not excuses, blame-shifting or the familiar ritual of assembling another committee whose report may never change how we campaign,” he said.
Israel also commended Tinubu for allowing the election to proceed without using the powers of the presidency to favour the APC.
“President Tinubu has demonstrated that his commitment to democracy is not limited to elections that favour the APC. That is statesmanship, and it should be acknowledged even when the result is painful for our party,” he said.
He said Adeleke’s victory also showed the importance of connecting with ordinary voters, arguing that the governor’s dancing and accessibility had helped humanise him.
“Our party must therefore stop confusing sophistication with electoral value. A candidate may dominate elite discourse and still fail to move a ward. Another may be mocked in elite spaces and still command overwhelming loyalty on the ground.
“Elections are not won by approval ratings in Abuja. They are won by understanding people as they are,” Israel added.
UK Hails Citizen Participation, Decries Vote-buying
The United Kingdom Government has joined in commending Osun voters for their peaceful participation in the August 15 governorship election.
It also congratulated Adeleke on his re-election.
In a statement by the British High Commission yesterday, the UK said its mission had engaged stakeholders before the election and deployed accredited observers.
It noted the timely opening of polls in many locations, the commitment of security personnel and effective implementation of electoral procedures by INEC officials.
“Most of all, we were encouraged by the patience, resilience and participation demonstrated by voters throughout the day,” it said.
The UK, however, raised concerns over isolated incidents of tension and “the significant remaining challenge of voter interference, including vote-buying, across party lines.”
It also cited difficulties faced by people with disabilities and elderly voters, as well as overcrowding linked to the limited provision and speed of BVAS accreditation.
The commission urged relevant institutions to review the challenges and implement recommendations that would strengthen public confidence, transparency and accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
IPAC Congratulates Adeleke
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The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Osun State chapter, has also congratulated Adeleke on his re-election.
In a statement signed by its state chairman, Dr Tosin Odeyemi of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), IPAC commended Osun residents for turning out peacefully to exercise their franchise.
The council also commended INEC, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and other stakeholders for ensuring that the will of the people was largely reflected in the election.
Police Warn Against Forceful Takeover of LG Councils
Meanwhile, the lingering local government crisis in Osun resurfaced on Monday as the Commissioner of Police (Election), CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, warned political actors against any attempt to forcefully take over local government councils.
Erale, while congratulating Osun residents on the peaceful conclusion of the governorship election, expressed concern over reports that some individuals or groups planned to take control of local government premises despite the matter being before the court.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, the command said no individual, political group or association had the right to resort to self-help or force to assume control of any local government area or public institution while judicial proceedings were ongoing.
The police urged political actors to respect the rule of law and allow the courts to determine the matter.
Credit: Leadership