Ademola Adeleke has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State over alleged threats to deploy federal power during the forthcoming governorship election.
Adeleke spoke on Saturday in Osogbo while addressing leaders and ward officials of the Accord political structure across the state’s 332 wards.
The governor warned that attempts to intimidate voters ahead of the August 15 governorship poll would fail.
He accused the state chapter of the APC of dragging the name of Bola Ahmed Tinubu into what he described as anti-democratic rhetoric about using federal institutions to influence the election outcome.
According to Adeleke, the president is focused on governance and national development rather than interfering in the electoral process in the state.
He cited projects such as the reconstruction of the Ibadan–Ilesa Road and the implementation of student loan programmes as examples of federal initiatives aimed at improving governance.
“The President is using federal power to deliver on good governance,” Adeleke said, adding that neither Tinubu nor his close associates support threats to disrupt the election.
The governor urged residents of Osun State to remain vigilant and participate actively in the electoral process, stressing that the outcome of the election would be determined by voters.
“Our people insist on free and fair elections. Only electoral bandits boast of rigging in a democracy,” he said.
At the meeting, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, called on party leaders to intensify grassroots mobilisation and ensure that votes are protected during the election.
Also speaking, Olu Alabi urged elders across local government areas to begin preparations to support Adeleke’s re-election bid.
Similarly, Wale Oladipo and the Osun State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunday Bisi, reaffirmed their support for the governor and directed party structures to mobilise voters across the state.
Meanwhile, the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, said the party would not rely on federal influence to win the election.
Speaking during a Ramadan lecture organised by Muslim groups in Osogbo, Oyebamiji said the APC had been consulting widely with traditional rulers and residents across the state’s 30 local government areas.
“There is no way we can rely on federal might. We have consulted men and women across the state and we will continue to work hard until we have the opportunity to lead Osun State,” he said.
