Frontline candidates in the August 15 Osun State governorship election have expressed confidence in their chances of winning, while outlining their plans for the state if elected.
The candidates made their positions known at the Arise Townhall Meeting in Osogbo, where Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party; All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji; African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dr Najeem Salaam; and African Action Congress (AAC) candidate, Olajide Esan, separately declared that they would emerge victorious if the election was free and fair.
The town hall featured media professionals including Dr Reuben Abati, Dr Lasisi Olagunju, Dr Festus Adedayo and Adesuwa Omoruan as members of the panel.
Adeleke: I’m a bulldozer, not afraid of federal power
Governor Adeleke, who spoke first, said he was not intimidated by the backing being given to his APC challenger by the Federal Government and some APC governors.
Describing himself as a “bulldozer,” the governor said he was prepared to confront whatever political influence his opponents might deploy during the election.
“I am a bulldozer. I am talk and do. I am not afraid of federal might and governors backing the APC candidate. If they like, they should bring all the governors,” Adeleke said.
He added that the governors supporting Oyebamiji were his friends and would not determine the outcome of the election because they would not be voting.
“Those governors are my friends. I am a civilised administrator. They won’t vote; they can only come and dance, and after the election, we will meet,” he said.
Adeleke also rejected allegations that his administration had militarised the state ahead of the election, saying he did not have the constitutional authority to deploy the armed forces.
“I did not militarise Osun. I have no such capacity. I am not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” he said.
The governor said his administration’s achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education and agriculture would help secure his re-election.
According to him, about 350 kilometres of roads had been constructed under his administration, while another 160 kilometres were still under construction. He added that several roads abandoned for many years had also been completed.
“I promised my people of Osun State that I would govern with the fear of God and bring home what is called the dividends of democracy. Our work speaks for itself,” Adeleke said.
He also highlighted his administration’s interventions in healthcare, saying about 200 health centres had been renovated and equipped with beds, solar-powered facilities and other amenities.
“When I came in, I went around all our health centres. I said this is not acceptable. As of today, we have fixed about 200 healthcare centres. We put poles, solar lights, beds and everything is looking so beautiful,” he said.
On agriculture, Adeleke said his government had acquired 31 tractors and distributed seedlings and other inputs to farmers as part of efforts to increase food production.
He dismissed criticism from the APC that some of the roads constructed by his administration were of poor quality, describing such allegations as political propaganda.
The governor also defended his public dancing, which has attracted criticism from his opponents, saying his recreational activities had no impact on his performance in office.
OSUN
“I am a very prudent person and a very serious person. Nobody will stop me from dancing. As I am dancing, I am working. Dancing is a hobby that doesn’t disturb or affect my work,” he said.
On security, Adeleke said his administration had recruited and trained more than 1,500 personnel for the Amotekun security outfit. He said the personnel were trained by retired military and police officers before being deployed across the state’s local government areas.
He reiterated his call for a peaceful election and urged voters to remain at their polling units after voting to ensure their ballots were properly counted and followed through the collation process.
“I am always preaching free and fair elections because I know what is called democracy. It is the people. It is the Osun people that will decide,” he said.
Adeleke also expressed support for state police, saying he had advocated the initiative while serving in the Senate.
“I believe in state police. When I was in the Senate, I was the one that introduced State Policing. If it is my son that committed an offence, he will go and face the law,” he said.
The governor also rejected accusations that his administration was concentrating development in his hometown, Ede.
On the proposed airport project, he said experts were invited to assess possible locations before Ede was eventually selected.
“It’s not my fault that my town got blessed with lands. I invited all the experts to go and look for land where they can site the airport. They went around and ended up in Ede,” he said.
Asked whether he would congratulate his opponent if he lost the election, Adeleke ruled out such a possibility, insisting that he was confident of retaining his seat.
“Forget about it. I’m not going to lose this election because I’m so confident,” he said.
Oyebamiji promises to tackle hunger and poverty
The APC candidate, Oyebamiji, dismissed claims that the Federal Government intended to use its influence to secure his victory.
He said his administration, if elected, would focus on the welfare and development of residents across the state without favouring any particular community or local government.
“Governance is about people, it’s not about segments. It’s not about an area. It’s not about a city. It is not about a town. It’s the entirety of the state,” he said.
Oyebamiji said security, welfare and poverty reduction would be central to his administration, with major investments planned in agriculture, education and healthcare.
“We want to banish hunger and poverty. I want to invest seriously in agriculture, education, and health,” he said.
He added that human capital development would also receive attention under his proposed administration.
Reacting to Adeleke’s claim that “federal might” could be deployed in the election, Oyebamiji said he had not encountered evidence of such a plan during his extensive campaign across the state.
“I have visited 30 local government areas in Osun State three times. Nobody has ever heard that,” he said.
According to him, his interactions with party members, community leaders, artisans, lawyers, traders and civil servants had convinced him that many residents were demanding a change of government.
Oyebamiji said he had also established canvassers across the state to strengthen his campaign and mobilisation efforts.
“I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that our people in Osun are ready for a change. I’m coming here as the incoming governor of Osun, come August 15, 2026,” he said.
Oyebamiji questions Adeleke’s handling of state funds
The APC candidate also challenged Adeleke to account for the use of about N650 billion in federal allocations received by the state since the governor assumed office.
Oyebamiji further disputed claims about the financial position inherited by the Adeleke administration, insisting that former Governor Gboyega Oyetola left about N15 billion for his successor.
He said that during the 12 years of APC administrations under former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Oyetola, Osun received about N450 billion, compared with the approximately N650 billion he said had accrued to the state during Adeleke’s tenure.
“How does N650 billion match what we see in Osun today?” he asked.
Oyebamiji accused the current administration of failing to spread development evenly across the state and urged voters to reject what he described as attempts to create the impression that Adeleke inherited an empty treasury.
Salaam promises peace and better governance
ADC candidate Najeem Salaam said his experience in governance, academic background and involvement in agriculture had prepared him for the responsibility of governing Osun.
“I’m contesting to build on achievements of past governments that did it well and to correct the challenges that we have today,” Salaam said.
He promised to run a people-centred administration focused on addressing gaps in governance, improving development and ensuring accountability.
“My government is going to be a people-centred government,” he said.
Salaam also pointed to his academic credentials, stressing that his doctorate in political science was earned rather than honorary.
“My doctorate degree is not honorary. It’s a Doctor of Philosophy in political science. I read political science in my first degree, second degree, and up to the PhD level,” he said.
The former lawmaker said residents were tired of political violence and would favour a candidate capable of restoring peace.
“Osun people do not want thuggery again because they see us as the most peaceful party. They also know the only candidate that can bring peace is Najeem Salaam and the only party that can bring peace is the ADC,” he said.
He expressed concern over political violence and the circulation of weapons in the state, promising to tackle insecurity and create a more peaceful environment.
Salaam said his broader objective was to build a better future for residents through effective governance, human development and practical policies.
“To build a better today and tomorrow for Osun. I will go in to develop Osun in a better way, give people what belongs to them. I am more fit than any other governor,” he said.
He described his 10-point agenda as realistic and achievable, stressing that his approach to governance would be based on research, planning and implementation.
Esan promises greater transparency
AAC candidate Olajide Esan said his priority would be to return government to the people and make public office more focused on service.
He argued that despite the large number of politicians in the state, residents had not received the level of leadership they deserved.
“Going into my vision, what is important to me is to give governance back to the people, because instead of leaders serving the people in Nigeria, especially in Osun State, it is the people who are serving the leaders,” Esan said.
He promised to establish an Osun Residents Database to provide government with reliable information about residents and improve planning and service delivery.
“Part of the plans, we have what I call the Osun residents database. This database will give us the opportunity to have the information of Osun residents and to also be able to put the right things in place for Osun people,” he said.
Esan also proposed the creation of a financial dashboard that would enable residents to monitor government spending and question officials over the use of public funds.
“Financial dashboard will give Osun people the opportunity to monitor and to track government spendings,” he said.
According to him, greater transparency would help prevent public office from becoming a means of personal enrichment.
“Accountability is very important. Because the lack of accountability is what is making politics a lucrative business to career politicians,” he said.
With the election now approaching, the four candidates maintained that their respective programmes and visions offered the best path for the development of Osun State, leaving voters to make the final choice at the polls.
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