Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has warned President Bola Tinubu against any attempt to rig the August 15 governorship election in the state, declaring that the people will come out in large numbers to vote and defend their ballots.
Adeleke issued the warning on Monday while addressing supporters at a campaign rally, saying Osun residents would not accept any manipulation of the electoral process.
The governor, who described himself as the Chief Security Officer of the state, also accused the police of being compromised and expressed concern over recent killings in parts of Osun.
He appealed to President Tinubu to ensure that the governorship election was free, fair and peaceful, saying the people of the state had supported the President and should not be made to suffer as a result.
“President Tinubu, I’m passing this message to you, what do you want Osun State to do?” Adeleke asked.
“We have endorsed you, what more do you want us to do? Why have we done that they are killing us? The police have been compromised, let them go and confront kidnappers.”
Adeleke said the state government had a responsibility to protect its citizens and would not stand by while the electoral process was allegedly manipulated.
“President Tinubu, I’m using this period to tell you, I’m the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, and I’m passing this message to you that Osun will not accept any rigging, we will go out en masse to vote and defend our votes,” he said.
The governor also warned against a repeat of the political crisis surrounding the 1993 presidential election, when the result of the election widely believed to have been won by MKO Abiola was annulled by the military government.
Adeleke said the lessons of the past should guide the conduct of the forthcoming election, stressing that Osun people should be allowed to freely choose their governor.
“I repeat, let’s not allow what happened in 1993 to repeat itself,” he said.
The governor also questioned what he described as the continued suffering of Osun residents despite his claim that the people of the state had supported Tinubu.
“President Tinubu, Osun people and Accord Party has endorsed you as our presidential candidate, why are we suffering?” he asked.
“Why is our money being kept? Oyetola needs to be called to order, people are just being killed, the blood of the innocent will cry out,” he added.
Adeleke’s comments came as political activities intensified ahead of the August 15 governorship election, which is expected to be closely contested.
The election is attracting attention because of its political importance in Osun and the wider South-West region. The outcome will determine who controls the state for another four-year term and could also influence political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
Adeleke, who is seeking another term in office, is expected to face a strong challenge from the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, which previously controlled the state before his emergence as governor.
The governor was elected in 2022 after defeating the APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, who had served as governor from 2018 to 2022. The election followed a closely fought contest that generated considerable political interest in the state.
Oyetola, who is now serving as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, remains a major figure in Osun politics and has continued to feature prominently in the political debate surrounding the state.
Adeleke’s reference to Oyetola came amid his broader complaints about the treatment of Osun by the Federal Government. The governor accused the former governor of failing to adequately address issues affecting the state, while also calling on President Tinubu to intervene.
The governor’s warning also comes against the background of longstanding concerns over election security and the conduct of security agencies during Nigerian elections.
Political parties and candidates have repeatedly called on security agencies to remain neutral and protect voters, candidates and electoral officials during elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has also consistently stressed the need for peaceful elections and urged political parties and their supporters to avoid violence.
For the August 15 poll, security is expected to be a major issue as authorities prepare to deploy personnel across the state.
Adeleke’s position as governor also places him at the centre of the security arrangements within the state, although election security is handled through federal security agencies and other institutions working with INEC.
His allegation that the police have been compromised is likely to attract attention from security authorities, particularly because he linked the issue to killings and insecurity in the state.
The governor did not provide details of specific incidents to support the allegation during the address, but his remarks reflected the growing tension surrounding the election.
He urged the Federal Government to take steps to protect residents and ensure that security agencies focus on threats such as kidnapping and other violent crimes rather than becoming involved in political activities.
The governor’s appeal to Tinubu is also significant because of the political relationship between the two camps. While Adeleke belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he said Osun people and the Accord Party had endorsed Tinubu as their preferred presidential candidate.
The statement appeared aimed at reminding the President of the support he claimed Tinubu had received from the state while asking him to ensure that the state was treated fairly.
With the election approaching, Adeleke’s call for voters to turn out in large numbers is likely to become a major part of his campaign message.
The governor has urged residents to vote and protect their ballots, insisting that the will of the people must prevail.
However, political observers and stakeholders are expected to watch closely how the election is conducted, particularly the roles of security agencies, electoral officials, political parties and their supporters.
The key challenge will be to ensure that voters can exercise their rights without intimidation or violence and that their votes are properly counted and recorded.
For Adeleke, the message to Tinubu is that Osun voters will not accept any attempt to alter the outcome of the election.
He has therefore called on the President to ensure that the August 15 poll is conducted in a manner that allows the people to freely choose their next governor.