Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has made a startling personal revelation while campaigning for his party ahead of the state's governorship election, declaring that he has never been intimate with any woman other than his wife, Sherifat, since their marriage. Speaking at an ADC rally in Ejigbo Local Government Area on Saturday, August 8, 2026, Aregbesola linked his claim of marital fidelity to his religious conviction, framing it as part of a personal commitment he had made before God. Addressing party supporters in Yoruba, the former governor said his stance was not common among many men and that he had used it as a basis for a divine request concerning the party's political ambition in the state.
"Oh Lord my God, if you are the one I am serving, and I did not add any other thing to it. What I am about to say, only a few men can say it: Because of your fear, I never had any intimacy with another woman since I married my wife," Aregbesola told the gathering. The former governor then expressed confidence in the ADC's chances in the election, adding: "I told God that next June, we must do it at the Government House". His comments came as political parties intensified their campaigns across Osun ahead of the governorship election fixed for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold on August 15, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party seeking another term in office. He faces opposition from Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Najeem Folasayo Salaam of the ADC, among other contenders. Aregbesola, who once governed Osun on the APC platform before defecting to the ADC, has been actively campaigning for his party ahead of the poll. At the same rally, he also dismissed reports that the ADC had withdrawn from the race or formed an alliance with any other political group, insisting that the party and its candidate would contest to win.
Aregbesola's unusual claim of marital fidelity has generated significant attention and debate across social media and political circles. While some have applauded his openness and commitment to his marriage, others have questioned the relevance of such a personal revelation in a political campaign setting. The statement also drew comparisons to similar claims made by other public figures, with some commentators noting that such declarations are rare among Nigerian politicians. The former governor's decision to tie his personal conduct to a prayer for electoral victory has also been interpreted by some observers as an attempt to appeal to the religious sensibilities of voters in a state where faith plays a significant role in public life.
Aregbesola's political journey has been marked by a series of dramatic shifts. He served as Governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 under the banner of the APC, but later fell out with the party leadership and defected to the ADC. His presence at the Ejigbo rally was part of efforts to boost the ADC's chances in the upcoming election, which is widely seen as a three-horse race between Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam. The election is expected to be closely watched as the competing parties seek to convince voters across the state in the final stretch of the campaign.
As the August 15 election draws near, the ADC is banking on Aregbesola's political experience and grassroots appeal to sway undecided voters. The former governor's personal revelation, whether seen as a genuine expression of faith or a calculated political move, has succeeded in drawing attention to the ADC and its candidate. The question now is whether voters will reward such openness at the polls, or whether the focus will remain on the pressing issues of governance, security and economic development that have dominated the campaign discourse.
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