Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday dismissed the political influence of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, calling him a “paperweight” after Oyinlola withdrew his support for Adeleke’s re-election bid ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Speaking during an Arise TV town hall programme, Adeleke accused Oyinlola of repeatedly working against his political ambitions, citing instances from his Senate bid in 2007, the disputed 2018 governorship election, and the 2022 governorship race. He claimed Oyinlola had never supported him in these contests, despite his own victory in 2022.
A History of Opposition and a Failed Reconciliation
According to Adeleke, Oyinlola opposed his Senate bid in 2007 and did not back him during the 2018 governorship election, despite then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments on the disputed poll. In 2022, Adeleke alleged, Oyinlola supported Fatai Akinbade, then Secretary to the Osun State Government, instead of him.
“In 2022, he did not support me. He went to go and bring the secretary to the state government, Akinbad,” Adeleke said. He also claimed that after his 2022 victory, Oyinlola sought reconciliation, which Adeleke accepted out of a “forgiving spirit.”
“Immediately I won, he came back to me. Say, ‘Oh, don’t let us fight. Don’t let us do this.’ I said, ‘Okay, no problem, because I have a forgiving spirit.’ He complained to me…he doesn’t have a car, and I gave him a new car. He collected a new car, and he defected to another party,” Adeleke recounted.
Oyinlola’s Defection and the 2026 Election
Oyinlola, who had earlier supported Adeleke’s re-election, withdrew that backing on Sunday and aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. At a Sunday event, Oyinlola and other PDP stakeholders endorsed Oyebamiji, citing a lack of inclusiveness in Adeleke’s administration. Oyinlola insisted they had not defected from the PDP but chose to support Oyebamiji because Osun required a different direction.
Adeleke, however, dismissed Oyinlola’s influence, claiming that in the 2022 election, the candidate Oyinlola backed secured low votes despite his support. He said Oyinlola’s current position would not affect his chances in Saturday’s poll.
“He’s a paperweight. I’m not worried about him. That’s not going to affect anything,” Adeleke said. The election, set for August 15, will see Adeleke seek a second term against Oyebamiji and other challengers in a 14-party contest.
