Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has warned against any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the August 15, 2026 governorship election, stressing that the state would not tolerate electoral malpractice.
Adeleke pointedly declared that as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, e would not succumb to any attempt aimed at rigging the election and warned that any attempt could trigger a political crisis similar to the violence that followed the controversial 1983 governorship election in neighbouring Ondo State.
The Governor who stated these while addressing supporters, emphasising that the people of Osun were determined to protect their votes.
In the words of Adeleke; “President Tinubu, I’m the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, and I’m passing this message to you. Osun will not accept any rigging.
“If anybody tries to do otherwise, the political crisis of 1983 may repeat itself again,” he warned.
Adeleke particularly questioned why his administration was facing political pressure despite reports that the Accord Party had already endorsed President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
He further said; “President Tinubu, the Accord Party has endorsed you as its presidential candidate. Why are we suffering again?”.
The Osun State governor also accused the Nigeria Police Force of being compromised, saying that officers were being deployed to intimidate political opponents instead of tackling insecurity across the country.
Adeleke said security operatives should be focusing on kidnappers and other criminal elements rather than allegedly targeting innocent residents in Osun.
“The police are being compromised. Why are they not sending them to where kidnappers are instead of sending them to kill people in Osun?” he said.
The Governor’s comments come barely a week after the Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG) was arrested and detained by the police before he was later released.
Adeleke referenced the controversial 1983 governorship election in Ondo State during which the incumbent governor, late Chief Michael Ajasin of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) contested against his former deputy, Akin Omoboriowo, who had defected to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
Omoboriowo was declared the winner amid widespread allegations of electoral manipulation, a development that created violent protests across Ondo State during which dozens of people lost their lives, while several properties were destroyed in the unrest.
