Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of plotting to undermine the August 15 governorship election in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adeleke alleged this in a statement released on Sunday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in reaction to remarks by Oyetola while addressing APC stakeholders and supporters in the state.
Oyetola, ex-governor of Osun who lost his re-election bid to Adeleke in 2022, had charged the incumbent to prepare for defeat, saying his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu would not save his administration.
The APC would take back the governorship seat, Oyetola said in Yoruba, adding, Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu would not determine the outcome of the election.
They know they are already missing out. Then they said they had endorsed us. He nearly cried. Endorsement can’t keep this seat for you. We are taking over it,” Oyetola said.
“If you want, endorse 10 and we will get this one from you,” he added.
Reacting, Adeleke described the statement as a “open threat” to the conduct of free and fair election and urged democracy advocates to take note of the minister’s comments.
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The governor also accused the APC of planning to rig the poll because, according to him, the party had lost the support of Osun voters.
Adeleke said his endorsement of Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election was a sign of his political strength and ability to mobilize votes for the President in Osun.
He also alleged that Oyetola has been working to tarnish Tinubu’s image thru his activities in the state.
“A serving minister of the Republic had made an open threat against free and fair election,” Adeleke stated.
He stated that Osun residents would fight against any move to erode their right to freely choose their leaders.
“The bad news for the minister is that Osun people are resolute in resisting his sadistic agenda,” the governor said.
Adeleke also expressed confidence of being re-elected, saying voters would reject the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in Saturday’s election.
The governor said his administration would respect the will of the voters and called on stakeholders to ensure that the poll was conducted transparently and peacefully.