Osun 2026: Adeleke warns Tinubu against 1983 crisis, alleges rigging plots
By Idun Maximus
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu to prevent a repeat of the political crisis of 1983 as the August 15 governorship election approaches.
Speaking during a campaign rally in Olorunda Local Government Area on Monday, Governor Adeleke vowed that election rigging would be resisted in the state, expressing absolute confidence in his victory if the process remains free and fair.
Directing his appeal to the presidency, Adeleke urged President Tinubu to call former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, to order, accusing him of orchestrating unrest and violence in the state.
He lamented the loss of lives ahead of the polls and alleged that security forces had been compromised.
“President Bola Tinubu, something is happening in Osun that you need to intervene in. They are killing our people. You are the president; you are a father to all of us. Osun has said they won’t allow rigging. There won’t be rigging in Osun,” Adeleke declared.
Drawing historical parallels, he warned against subverting the will of the electorate, saying “Remember what happened in 1983. It started in Yorubaland when they cheated Bola Ige and Ajasin. Osun will not agree. We want a free and fair election.
“President Tinubu, I’m passing this message to you. We have endorsed you, why are they killing us? The police are compromised; they didn’t go and meet kidnappers. I’m telling President Tinubu today as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State: Osun will not accept any rigging. We will go out en masse, vote, and defend our votes.”
Adeleke urged the president to safeguard the nation’s democracy from internal sabotage.
“Don’t let what happened in 1983 repeat itself in Osun. The Accord Party has endorsed you as our presidential candidate, so why are we suffering? Oyetola needs to be called to order. President Tinubu, you worked for this democracy; don’t let Oyetola destroy everything. He is the one that spoiled the APC in Osun; he is fighting everybody,” Adeleke said.
Reflecting on past political battles, Adeleke added: “When you cheated me in 2018, I left you to govern. I traveled to America and went into exile to let you do what you had to do. Now I am back, and I am sure that with what we have done, I am going to win this second-term election. All we want is a free and fair process. If it is free and fair, I am going to win.”
