Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has pushed back against mounting criticism that he has turned the state into an "Adeleke dynasty," insisting that his family's political dominance is not a product of imposition but a reflection of the people's will. In an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, August 16, 2026, the governor responded to opposition claims that he has deliberately packed government appointments with relatives and consolidated power within his family circle.
"I'm not the one who made it. It's the Osun people that want us. They want us, not me. This is democracy. Can we force them?" Adeleke said, according to multiple reports. The governor argued that the popularity of the Adeleke family among Osun residents stems from the close bonds and shared values that define the family's identity. "They believe that our family is a family that a lot of people would love their family to be like that. We are so close," he added.
The governor's defence comes amid sustained scrutiny of his administration's appointments, which have placed several family members in key positions across the state's governance and parastatal structures. His cabinet includes Mrs. Adenike Folasade Adeleke, the widow of his late elder brother and former Governor Isiaka Adeleke, as Commissioner for Federal Affairs. His nephew, Tunji Adeleke (Jnr), serves as Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, while his cousin, global music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, was appointed Chairman of the Osun Sports Trust Fund.
Critics have described these appointments as nepotism, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other opposition figures accusing the governor of running the state as a family enterprise. Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, has been particularly vocal, alleging that Adeleke's elder sister, Modupeola Adeleke-Sanni, wields significant influence over the administration and that the family treats the state treasury as a "family jackpot." Sowore also claimed that Davido's support for President Bola Tinubu's administration contradicted the family's pretence of standing with ordinary Nigerians.
Adeleke, however, dismissed the allegations, maintaining that the electorate remains the ultimate decision‑maker in a democracy and that his family's political successes cannot be attributed to personal ambition or imposition. He also spoke warmly about his childhood, describing himself as the last born who was protective of his possessions, and noted that his siblings were generous with him. "I remember when we were growing up, because I'm the last born, I'm selfish, and when I have my things, I don't like to give to anybody, but when they have their own, they would give it to me," he said.
The governor's comments come on the heels of his re-election victory in the August 15 governorship poll, where he defeated the APC's Bola Oyebamiji with 511,067 votes to 444,815 votes. The outcome secured another four‑year term for Adeleke and cemented the Adeleke family's position at the centre of Osun politics. His elder sister, Modupeola Adeleke-Sanni, was visibly present during the victory celebrations, with a viral video showing the governor prostrating before her as she prayed for him.
While Adeleke has framed the dynasty debate as a matter of public preference, the criticism is unlikely to fade. The appointments of relatives, the informal influence of his billionaire brother Adedeji Adeleke, and the family's growing footprint across state institutions have fuelled perceptions that Osun is being governed as a family affair. But the governor remains defiant. "The people want us," he insisted. Whether that answer will satisfy his critics or deepen the debate over nepotism in Osun's governance remains to be seen.
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