Blog

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has challenged his opponents in the 2026 governorship election to base their campaigns on the performance of their parties when they were in government, noting that “Osun will never go back to the dark days.”

Adeleke made the remark in his acceptance speech after emerging as the Accord Party’s candidate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election.

The governor said his administration had achieved so much in the past three years that he deserved another term in office.

Thanking the leadership of the Accord Party and delegates from the 332 wards of the state, Adeleke said, “The confidence you have reposed in me is greatly appreciated. I assure you that I will not take it for granted.”

“We are today launching the battle for continuity of progress, good governance, and democratic dividends. My candidacy signals the sustenance of the golden movement when the light of development continues to shine across our state. We vow never to relent in the rewarding service to our people.”

“We note today as the point of resolution never to go back to the dark days but to advance further into the journey of modernisation. For a long time, Osun has witnessed failed promises. In the last three years, we actualised the yearnings and aspirations of our people. Ours is a government of talk and do.”

Governor Adeleke accused opposition parties of failing the people of the state, saying, “In the forthcoming polls, I challenge likely opponents to run on their records.

“In their days in government, what were their deliverables to the people of Osun State? How did they run or manage the state? What legacy did they leave for the people?

“In their days in power, they failed the people; they failed their party; they even failed themselves. Today, the people reject them. Even their own party men and women are up in arms against them.

“I am proud to run on my records of achievements of the last three years. Despite harassment and blockages, my administration outperforms, outshines, and surpasses the records of the opposition. I have raised the bar of governance beyond rhetoric and deceit.”

Highlighting some of his achievements, Adeleke said, “Our achievements can be seen and felt by the people. That Osun moved from number 33 under the APC government to number 7 under my leadership in a national examination rating cannot be disputed.”

“That my government reduced the Osun infrastructure deficit from over 80 per cent in 2022 by over 40 per cent as of 2025 is attested to by many experts.”

Advertisement

“That we paid over 40 per cent of Osun’s inherited debt is confirmed by the Debt Management Office.

“That we came first in access to primary health care across the Southwest is in the public domain.

“Our governance delivery proved governance can be real, that leadership can actually serve the people, that there are leaders still committed to the service of the people. I belong to that circle of leaders who prioritise meeting the aspirations and needs of our people.”

“To the good people of Osun, the 2026 race is not just about running on our records; we are bringing new innovations and new packages to take our people to new levels of development.”

He expressed the determination to continue embarking on people oriented projects and programs, “I am bold to announce that I have substantially delivered on my five-point agenda, which I promised the people of Osun State in 2022.

“Today, as I accept my nomination, I unveil an upgraded five-point agenda for the impending battle for the gates of our people, namely: Integrated citizens’ and workers’ welfare; infrastructure consolidation for economic prosperity; increased agro-industrial expansion for youth empowerment; innovations for health, education and social care; and improved business environment for job creation.”

Announcing the result of the primary election, held in Osogbo the state capital on Wednesday, the Secretary of the Electoral Committee, Abdulazeez Salaudeen, said Adeleke, who was the only aspirant, polled 145 votes, while five votes were voided.

Salaudeen said, “Having the highest number of votes, I declare Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the primary.

“The electoral committee has delivered on its mandate. After voting and counting, witnessed by the agents of the candidate and the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

There was heavy security presence at the venue, as armed policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) were deployed. INEC officials too were on ground to observe the exercise.

Governor Adeleke’s deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi and other top political aides and associates of the governor were present.

Meanwhile, conspicuously absent at the venue were the Osun State PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Wale Egbedun; state lawmakers; as well as members of the National Assembly elected under the PDP platform.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has emerged the governorship candidate of the Accord Party for next year’s governorship election.

The declaration took place at the Osun State Accord Party governorship primary on Wednesday.

The Osun State party chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, also revealed that Governor Adeleke is the party’s sole candidate, adding that about 150 delegates would partake in the primary.

The Chairman of the African Democratic Congress in Rivers State, Leader Sampson, has criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara for defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, without first consulting Rivers people.

THN reported that Governor Fubara on Tuesday, confirmed that he would be joining the APC during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House.

Fubara explained that his decision to defect was taken in the interest of Rivers people, adding that he had received the approval of President Bola Tinubu.

Reacting to the development, Sampson said it was not enough for the Governor to meet with a few supporters and claim he had consulted them before leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the APC.

Speaking in an interview with journalists, the ADC Chairman said the move was largely expected but argues that no serious Rivers person would take Governor Fubara seriously, describing him as “inconsistent and indecisive.”

He said, “No Rivers person that is a serious person will take Governor Fubara serious. It’s very obvious, he has been a man that has been very inconsistent and indecisive about what he should do.

“And we are not surprised that, he has as a baby, a suckling, he has ran to the APC, probably at the request of the Presidential or he went to beg the President that he wants to join the APC.

“Which ever way, in his speech, he said the President is the reason why he is still the Governor today and that if joining the APC is a way of telling the President thank you.

“The truth is that, has Governor Fubara consulted Rivers people that gave him that mandate?

“You cannot put a group of people together and say they’re your supporters and that you have consulted with them or you’ve come back to come and speak on behalf of Rivers people to say you are defecting to the APC.”

Sampson added that the Governor’s defection further shows that many individuals entrusted with leadership positions in Nigeria are “indecisive” and unable to take a firm stand on critical issues.

He, however, described the situation as a positive development for the ADC, insisting that Nigerians have rejected the APC due to the hardship and insecurity facing the country.

According to him, the defection presents an opportunity for the ADC to engage Rivers people and provide a credible alternative.

“Most of the people that we entrust leadership to them are people that are very indecisive, are people that cannot take a stand in any issue.

“For the ADC, it’s a good omen for us. It shows that Rivers people, Nigeri have rejected the APC.

“So, Fubara joining them, it also means that him Fubara has also rejected Rivers people and it is an opportunity for the ADC to harvest the good people of Rivers State that are willing, that don’t want to die.

“The APC that we’re talking about that Governor Fubara has gone to join is the APC that has brought poverty to Nigerians, brought poverty to Rivers State, killings.

“People are dying everyday, terrorism, banditry everywhere. You cannot travel by road in this country. And that’s the same APC government that Fubara has now announced that he’s going.

“So, for we in the ADC we don’t take him seriously. It’s an opportunity for us to reach out to Rivers people and give Rivers people a credible alternative, which is the ADC.”

Responding to concerns that the ADC has been quiet despite its ambition to become the main opposition party, Sampson explained that the party was working strategically behind the scenes.

He said that when the time is right, the ADC will fully unveil its plans and make its position known to the people.

President Bola Tinubu has met with All Progressives Congress leaders and governorship aspirants in Osun state and appealed for unity and consensus-building ahead of the party’s primary on December 13.

The President met with the aspirants at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night.

The Osun State governorship aspirants who attended the meeting with the President include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

Also in attendance at the meeting were the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Chairman of the Progressive Governors, Hope Uzodimma; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

President Tinubu, who praised all the aspirants for their contributions to the APC in Osun State, urged them to close ranks and support the consensus candidate the party will present for the governorship election in the state. He also advised them to avoid the internal bickering and disunity that caused the party to lose the last election in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.

While harping on the importance of party supremacy, President Tinubu charged the aspirants to allow it to prevail in choosing the flagbearer, noting that only the party can benefit from it when it wins elections.

“You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State. You must strengthen the bonds of unity, party supremacy and collective responsibility.

” I have absolute confidence in your ability to deliver victory to our party in Osun State. You have my support and that of the National leadership of APC to win the coming election,” President Tinubu assured.

At the end of the meeting, a joint statement was issued in which the aspirants and the leaders committed to support the candidate who would emerge at the primary.

Here is the statement signed by all the aspirants and the APC leaders:

“We, the undersigned aspirants for the 2025 Osun State Governorship Election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having met and deliberated in the presence of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and in the spirit of unity, discipline, and loyalty to our great party, hereby declare as follows:

That we affirm and uphold the supremacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in guiding and determining the most appropriate process for selecting the party’s flag bearer for the 2025 Governorship Election in Osun State.

That we unanimously agree to abide by the party’s decision to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation at the APC Primary Election scheduled for Saturday, 13th December 2025.

That we accept the outcome of the party-led nomination process in good faith, and pledge our total support to the candidate so nominated and affirmed.

That we commit ourselves to peace, unity, and cohesion within the APC, and pledge not to engage in any act, public or private, that may undermine the integrity of the process or the standing of the party.

That we will work collectively and individually to ensure the success of the APC at the polls and the consolidation of good governance in Osun State.

“We make this declaration voluntarily, in absolute loyalty to our great party, and in recognition of the guidance provided by Mr President and the National Chairman in the overriding interest of the progress and stability of Osun State”.