Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has flagged off his re-election campaign in Osogbo, the state capital, ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election, declaring that he would not bow to what he described as forces of darkness and intimidation.
The campaign launch, held at Freedom Park in Osogbo, attracted a large crowd of supporters, party stakeholders and chieftains of the Accord Party (AP). The event also witnessed the defection of several loyalists of former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, to the ruling party.
Addressing supporters, Adeleke expressed confidence in his re-election bid and assured party members that the Accord Party would participate in the forthcoming governorship election despite legal challenges surrounding the status of some political parties.
“I assure you all that the Accord Party will be on the ballot, your votes will count and I will be re-elected as your governor on August 15,” Adeleke said.
He urged party supporters to remain resolute and continue mobilising for victory, stressing that the gains of his administration must be sustained.
“Hold your heads high. There should be no dull moment. From this assembly for democracy, the light of good governance must continue to spread to all corners of the state,” he added.
The governor also directed the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, to stop what he described as the protection of individuals allegedly occupying local government secretariats illegally.
He further called on United Bank for Africa (UBA) to discontinue any dealings with court-sacked APC council chairmen, insisting that all local government funds allegedly diverted under their watch must be fully accounted for.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, former Osun State Commissioner for Education, Folorunso Bamisayemi, said they had resolved to support Adeleke’s re-election bid.
Bamisayemi, alongside other defectors including Yemi Lawal and some aides of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, attributed their departure from the APC to dissatisfaction with the party’s handling of internal politics and repeated electoral setbacks.
According to him, the party’s refusal to consider Senator Iyiola Omisore for elective positions also contributed to their decision to leave the APC.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State Council, has directed members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) across the state to prevent the alleged court-sacked APC local government chairmen and their appointees from accessing council secretariats.
The directive followed a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, which dismissed a motion seeking a stay of execution of an earlier judgment filed by the affected chairmen.
In a statement signed by the Osun State NLC Chairman, Christopher Abimbola Arapasopo, the labour body said the court’s decision rendered the chairmen’s claims to office null and void.
The NLC consequently instructed NULGE members in all 30 local government councils, Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and area offices in the state to lock council secretariat gates against the affected officials and their appointees.
The union also directed workers to safeguard administrative offices and government property while continuing their official duties without disruption.
It further advised workers to report any attempt to forcefully gain access to council facilities to the NLC leadership and relevant security agencies, noting that the directive takes immediate effect pending further instructions.
