Adeleke accuses Oyetola of plotting Osun election rigging

Ademola Joseph

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of threatening to rig the August 15 governorship election, following comments made by the former governor ahead of the poll.

Adeleke, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday, described Oyetola’s remarks as an “open threat” to the credibility of the election.

Oyetola, who lost his re-election bid to Adeleke in the 2022 governorship election, had urged the governor to prepare for defeat, saying his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu would not save his administration.

Oyetola made the remarks while addressing All Progressives Congress stakeholders and supporters in Osun State on Saturday.

He was responding to Adeleke’s earlier allegations that APC members and leaders of the Accord Party were being intimidated ahead of the election.

Speaking in Yoruba, Oyetola said Adeleke’s complaints showed that the governor had realised he was losing his grip on the state.

He also dismissed Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu for another term in 2027, saying it would not prevent the APC from reclaiming the governorship.

Reacting, Adeleke urged democracy advocates to take note of Oyetola’s remarks and vowed that the people of Osun State would resist any attempt to manipulate the election.

The governor said Oyetola’s comments had reinforced earlier allegations that the APC was preparing to undermine the electoral process because of its declining support in the state.

He also accused the minister of damaging Tinubu’s image and weakening the APC’s standing among Osun voters.

Adeleke said his endorsement of Tinubu demonstrated his political strength and ability to deliver votes for the President in the 2027 election.

He further alleged that Oyetola’s remarks amounted to an attempt to deny Osun residents their democratic rights.

“The bad news for the minister is that Osun people are determined to resist his sadistic agenda. Our people rejected him in 2022, and they will reject his surrogate candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, next Saturday,” Adeleke said.

The governor expressed confidence in victory at the August 15 poll, attributing his expected re-election to the support of the electorate.

“We are winning this election by the grace of God and mass support of the people. We are not going to snatch the democratic rights of the people as Mr Oyetola had threatened. We will be re-elected by the choice of the voters,” he said.