Osogbo, Osun State – Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Gboyega Oyetola has told Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to brace for a loss in the August 15 governorship election, insisting that the governor's endorsement of President Bola Tinubu would do nothing to keep him in office. Oyetola's remarks came as the political atmosphere in the state heats up ahead of the poll.
Oyetola's Blunt Warning to Adeleke
Speaking to All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters and stakeholders in Osun State on Saturday, August 9, 2026, Oyetola addressed Adeleke's claims that APC members and Accord Party leaders were being intimidated ahead of the election. The former governor, who ruled Osun from 2018 to 2022, said Adeleke's complaints were a sign that the governor had already sensed his grip on the state slipping away.
In a direct message to Adeleke, Oyetola said: "They realised 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."
The minister also brushed aside Adeleke's repeated references to him during the campaign period, saying he had chosen not to engage the governor publicly. "If he sleeps and has nightmares, he will say he saw me. If his wife gave him food late, he would say I'm responsible for that. My name is so sweet in his mouth. Meanwhile, we are not even interested in his case. If we get interested in his case, he will feel it," Oyetola added.
Road to August 15: A Tight Contest
Adeleke is seeking a second term on the platform of the Accord Party, facing APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, as well as candidates from other parties. The race has been widely described as a tight contest between the two frontrunners, with both camps intensifying last-minute campaigns. The political climate in Osun has grown increasingly tense, with the two camps trading accusations over violence, arrests, and intimidation of supporters.
Adeleke's team has repeatedly accused the Oyetola-led APC of targeting Accord Party members through raids and arrests involving senior government officials and party leaders. The APC has rejected those allegations. According to The Punch, Oyetola made his remarks while addressing APC stakeholders, dismissing the governor's endorsement of President Tinubu as insufficient to save his hold on the state.
APGA Candidate Withdraws, Backs APC's Oyebamiji
In a significant development, APGA governorship candidate Adesina Adeyemi-Doro announced his withdrawal from the Osun State governorship race at a media conference in Osogbo on Saturday. Adeyemi-Doro said consultations with his supporters and senior party officials informed his decision to back APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji. APC's Oyebamiji welcomed the endorsement and promised an inclusive administration open to cooperation with political groups across the state.
This endorsement adds momentum to the APC campaign, which has been working to unseat Adeleke. Oyetola, who lost his re-election bid to Adeleke in 2022, is now backing Oyebamiji in the APC's effort to return to power in the state.
Tinubu's Emergency Meeting with APC Leaders
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that President Tinubu held a late-night meeting with about 76 Osun APC leaders at Aso Rock Villa following an intelligence report from NSA Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu's report warned that key APC figures in Osun had been sidelined from the party's campaign activities ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Leaders at the meeting accused Minister Adegboyega Oyetola of distributing federal appointments exclusively to members of his IleriOluwa camp. This internal rift within the APC could impact the party's fortunes in the election, even as Oyetola projects confidence in reclaiming the governorship seat.
As the election approaches, both camps are mobilizing supporters, with the APC and Accord Party trading accusations. The outcome remains uncertain, but Oyetola's message to Adeleke is clear: prepare for defeat.
