Osun State’s governorship race reached a fever pitch Tuesday, with frontline candidates trading sharp words and bold promises at an Arise Townhall Meeting in Osogbo just days before Saturday’s election.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party opened with defiance, declaring himself unbothered by the coalition of APC governors rallying behind his rival. He described himself as a fighter unmoved by federal pressure, insisting the visiting governors held no real sway over Osun voters — dismissing them, in his words, as friends who could “come and dance” but not decide the outcome.
The governor leaned heavily on his record, pointing to hundreds of kilometres of newly built and rehabilitated roads, roughly 200 renovated health centres, tractors and farming support for local agriculture, and the training of over 1,500 Amotekun security operatives. He waved off accusations that his administration militarised the state ahead of the vote, noting that he holds no such command authority, and brushed aside claims that development has been concentrated in his hometown of Ede, saying the town’s selection for a new airport followed expert site assessments rather than favouritism.
Even his signature public dancing — a frequent target of opposition mockery — got a spirited defence, as he insisted it doesn’t interfere with his work and challenged critics to verify his achievements for themselves.
Adeleke also voiced support for state policing and pledged accountability under the rule of law regardless of personal ties, while urging supporters to keep the election peaceful and to safeguard their votes through the collation process. Asked whether he’d concede if he lost, the governor brushed off the possibility entirely, projecting total confidence in victory.
His closest challenger, APC’s Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, struck a different tone — downplaying suggestions that Abuja would tip the scales in his favour and instead framing his campaign around inclusive governance. He promised a state-wide approach to development rather than one favouring any particular region. He outlined plans to tackle poverty and hunger through targeted investment in agriculture, education, and healthcare.
With ADC’s Dr Najeem Salaam and AAC’s Olajide Esan also staking their claims on the debate stage, Saturday’s vote is shaping up as one of the most closely watched off-cycle governorship contests in recent memory — a battle not just over policy, but over who truly controls the political machinery in Osun.
