Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has issued a dramatic and emotional appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that his supporters are being killed and unlawfully detained ahead of the August 15 governorship election, declaring that "Osun is bleeding" and that the people of the state will resist any attempt to manipulate or rig the poll. Speaking at a campaign rally in Osogbo on Monday, August 3, 2026, the governor, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party, alleged that seven Accord Party members had been killed in the last three months, more than 20 others sustained gunshot injuries, and over 60 supporters remained in what he described as illegal police detention.
Adeleke claimed that elements within the police were aiding political thugs to kill his supporters while some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were invoking President Tinubu's name to carry out acts of violence. "Mr President, something is happening in Osun State that you need to know. Our people are being killed on a daily basis. Elements within the police are aiding APC thugs to kill our people," Adeleke said. "Osun APC members are dropping Mr President's name to kill and maim Osun people. The name of Mr President is being dragged in the mud."
The governor expressed frustration that despite the Accord Party's endorsement of President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, his supporters were allegedly being targeted with violence and intimidation. "Mr President, we have publicly endorsed you for the 2027 presidential election. What more do you want from us? Why then are our people being killed?" he asked. He accused the police of being compromised and called on the President to direct security agencies to act professionally and impartially.
Adeleke also appealed to Tinubu to call the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, to order, alleging that the former governor was responsible for the crisis within the APC in Osun State and was fuelling the political violence. "Mr President, you fought for democracy; do not allow your brother to undermine it," Adeleke said, alleging that Oyetola was responsible for what he described as the crisis within the APC in Osun State.
Drawing a direct parallel with the 1983 political crisis in the old Western Region, Adeleke warned that history must not be allowed to repeat itself. "You will remember what happened in 1983. It started in Yorubaland, particularly in Ondo State, when Chief Bola Ige was allegedly cheated. We do not want history to repeat itself. What we want is a free, fair, and credible election," he said. He insisted that if the election was conducted transparently, he would win, and he called on supporters to come out on August 15 to vote and remain at polling areas until their votes were counted and results declared.
The Director-General of the Imole Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, who also spoke at the rally, alleged that the APC, in collaboration with some police personnel, had begun arresting Accord leaders. He said the alleged violence and arrests would not deter the governor's supporters from voting. "Osun people are resolved to vote and defend their votes. The voters' support for Governor Adeleke is because of his good performance. Killing innocent people only strengthens the resolve of the people to re-elect the governor," Oyewumi said. The Imole Campaign Council later issued a statement clarifying that the governor did not attack President Tinubu during the rally, but rather made a clarion call on the President to enforce free and fair elections in Osun State.
The APC has denied all the allegations made by Governor Adeleke. Mogaji Kola Olabisi, the media director of the APC, while reacting, cautioned the Accord Party from making inflammatory statements against the President and the police. He said the police are just maintaining law and order and arresting some criminal elements who are bent on disrupting the forthcoming election in the state.
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026, and is considered one of the most consequential off-cycle polls in Nigeria's electoral calendar. Political tensions have been high in the state, with both the ruling Accord Party and the opposition APC trading accusations of violence, intimidation, and electoral manipulation. The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured residents that the election will be free and fair, but the allegations of violence and intimidation have raised concerns about the security of the electoral process. As the election draws nearer, the people of Osun State are watching closely to see whether the security agencies will rise to the occasion and protect the integrity of the electoral process, or whether the allegations of violence and intimidation will undermine public confidence in the outcome of the poll.
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