Governor Ademola Adeleke has described a comment by the minister of marine and blue economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State as an indication that the All Progressives Congress plans to rig the election.
Adeleke made the claim in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and obtained by our correspondent in Osogbo on Sunday.
Oyetola had on Saturday urged Adeleke to prepare for defeat in the August 15 governorship election, saying his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu would not save his administration.
Oyetola stated this while addressing APC stakeholders and supporters in Osun State.
Oyetola, the former governor who lost to Adeleke in the 2022 governorship election, responded to Adeleke’s allegations of intimidation against APC members and leaders of the Accord.
He stated that Adeleke’s complaints indicated he was losing control of the state and that his endorsement of Tinubu would not prevent the APC from reclaiming the governorship seat.
Oyetola said, “They realized that they are already losing out. Then they claimed to have endorsed us. He almost cried. Endorsement cannot retain this seat for you. We are taking it over.
“If you like, make 10 endorsements; we will collect this one from you.”
In reaction, Adeleke described Oyetola’s comment as an “open threat” to rig the governorship election and called on democracy advocates to take note of the development.
He warned that the people of Osun State would not allow any attempt to rig the August 15 election and demanded a free and fair vote.
According to the statement, Oyetola condemned Adeleke’s backing of Tinubu for another term in 2027, adding in Yoruba, “A maa gba lowo e,” which translates to “we will snatch it from him.”
Adeleke stated that his endorsement of Tinubu demonstrates his electoral strength and potential to deliver Osun votes to the president in 2027.
He said that Oyetola’s actions were harming Tinubu’s reputation and undermining the APC’s position in the state.
Adeleke said, “Oyetola’s anti-people, anti-democracy activities are tarnishing the image of Mr. President and deepening the unpopularity of the Osun APC among voters and residents.
“A serving minister of the Republic had made an open threat against a free and fair election. The minister has personally confirmed all previous reports that Osun APC has lost the electoral confidence of the people and is therefore focused only on rigging next Saturday.
“The minister has made a mockery of innocent Accord members who were killed and maimed by APC thugs in cold blood in the last two months. He has told the world that he is pushing to deny the people their rights to vote and be voted for.
“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.
“As for us, 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.”
