Adeleke Calls Out Oyinlola for Pulling Support Ahead of Election

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday called out one of his predecessors, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, for withdrawing his support ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Mr Adeleke, who wants a second term, claimed that Mr Oyinlola has been working against his political goals.

He made these comments on Tuesday during an Arise TV town hall programme ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The governor said Mr Oyinlola opposed him during his bid for the Senate and also during the 2018 and 2022 governorship elections.

According to him, Mr Oyinlola’s opposition to his ambitions is not new. He claimed that the former governor did not support him when he ran for the Senate in 2007.

Mr Adeleke also mentioned the disputed 2018 governorship election, saying that Mr Oyinlola did not support him despite comments from then-President Muhammadu Buhari.

He further alleged that Mr Oyinlola backed the then Secretary to the Osun State Government, Fatai Akinbade, during the 2022 governorship election.

“In 2022, he did not support me. He went to go and bring the secretary to the state government, Akinbade,” Mr Adeleke said.

Mr Adeleke’s remarks come as Mr Oyinlola has changed his political stance ahead of Saturday’s election. The former governor, who had earlier supported Adeleke’s re-election, withdrew that support on Sunday and aligned with the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Mr Oyinlola and other PDP members at the Sunday event declared their support for Mr Oyebamiji. They cited what they called a lack of inclusiveness in Mr Adeleke’s administration.

While announcing his endorsement, Mr Oyinlola claimed he and his group had not left the PDP. He insisted they were still party members but chose to support Mr Oyebamiji because they believe Osun needs a new direction.

Mr Adeleke, however, questioned the former governor’s influence. He said that Mr Oyinlola’s chosen candidate received very few votes in the election despite the support.

He mentioned that the former governor came to him after his win in the 2022 election seeking peace.

Mr Adeleke said he agreed to reconcile because he has a forgiving nature. He claimed Mr Oyinlola later complained to him about not having a car, so he gave him a new vehicle. But he alleged that Mr Oyinlola then switched his political support again.

“Immediately I won, he came back to me. He said, ‘Oh, don’t let us fight. Don’t let us do this.’ I said, ‘Okay, no problem, because I have a forgiving spirit.’ He complained to me…he doesn’t have a car, and I gave him a new car. He collected a new car, and he defected to another party.”

The governor dismissed Mr Oyinlola’s current stance as not important, saying it will not impact his chances in Saturday’s election.

“He’s a paperweight. I’m not worried about him. That’s not going to affect anything,” Mr Adeleke said.

This back-and-forth comes just days before Osun voters head to the polls to choose a governor. Mr Adeleke is looking for another term, while the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, is one of the main challengers in the 14-party race.