Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has withdrawn remarks he made against Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo during the build-up to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, saying political disagreements should not undermine respect for public institutions . Olajengbesi, who also serves as the Accord Party candidate for the Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, issued a statement on Thursday, August 19, 2026, in which he said he was withdrawing any statement that may have appeared disrespectful to the Edo governor .
The withdrawal comes after a heated exchange between the two sides during the Osun election campaign. Okpebholo had visited Osun State to canvass support for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and had criticised Adeleke's leadership style, mocking the governor over his frequent dancing . Speaking at an APC rally, Okpebholo accused Adeleke of spending more time dancing than governing the state . The Edo governor also claimed that Adeleke was not regular at meetings of APC governors in Abuja, arguing that this had affected his understanding of political and governance issues . Okpebholo further urged Osun voters to collect money allegedly being distributed by the Accord Party but vote for the APC candidate .
Olajengbesi, in his statement, acknowledged that Okpebholo had conducted himself in what he described as a "very uncharitable manner" during the election . He noted that several eminent Nigerians and respected members of the APC were present in Osun State during the election and worked extensively for their party without publicly disrespecting Adeleke or diminishing the dignity of his office . "A lot of eminent Nigerians and respected members of the APC were in Osun State. Many worked even harder than Governor Monday Okpebholo for their party, yet none publicly disrespected Governor Ademola Adeleke or diminished the dignity of his office," Olajengbesi said .
Olajengbesi, however, advised Okpebholo to rely more on his media aides when communicating with the public and reduce what he described as the activities of "two overzealous cheerleaders" around him . "Going forward, I would respectfully advise the Governor to speak more through his media aides and reduce the activities of the two overzealous cheerleaders around him who are constantly shouting, hyping and hailing him," he said . Olajengbesi stressed that the withdrawal was intended to reinforce the need for civility in political engagements. "I therefore withdraw any statement that may have appeared unduly insulting or disrespectful. Political disagreements should never prevent us from respecting public institutions and the offices people occupy," he stated .
The council spokesperson also urged Edo residents to continue scrutinising the performance of their governor, describing accountability as a fundamental responsibility of citizens in a democracy. "I equally encourage the good people of Edo State to continue to hold their Governor accountable. That is the responsibility of citizens in every democracy," he said . The development comes after Governor Ademola Adeleke secured a decisive re-election victory, winning 19 of the 30 local government areas in Osun State . The election outcome has been widely interpreted as a rejection of federal might and a testament to the governor's grassroots appeal, but the war of words between the opposing camps has continued in its aftermath.
The withdrawal of remarks by Olajengbesi signals an attempt to de-escalate political tensions following a fiercely contested election. His call for civility and respect for public institutions, while maintaining the right of citizens to hold leaders accountable, reflects a growing recognition among political actors that the battle for political power should not come at the expense of the dignity of public office. For Governor Okpebholo, the statement serves as a reminder that public scrutiny is an essential part of democratic governance. For Olajengbesi, it is a strategic move to move beyond the election season and focus on the substance of governance rather than the heat of political exchanges.
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