Governor says minister’s “we will collect it from you” remark signals plans to manipulate Saturday’s election.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of threatening to rig the August 15 governorship election in the state.
Governor Adeleke made the allegation in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in reaction to comments made by Oyetola during an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting in Osun.
Oyetola, who served as governor of Osun before losing his re-election bid to Adeleke in 2022, had urged the incumbent governor to prepare for defeat, saying Adeleke’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu would not save his administration.
Speaking in Yoruba, Oyetola said the APC would reclaim the governorship seat, adding, “If you like, make 10 endorsements, we will collect this one from you.”
Reacting, Adeleke described the statement as an “open threat” to the integrity of the election and urged democracy advocates in Nigeria and beyond to take note of the development.
The governor said the people of Osun would resist any attempt to manipulate the August 15 poll and called for a free, fair and credible election.
According to Governor Adeleke, Oyetola’s remark that the APC would “snatch” the election from him amounted to an indication that the party was preparing to undermine the will of voters.
He also defended his endorsement of President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, describing it as evidence of his political strength and ability to mobilise votes for the President in Osun.
Governor Adeleke further accused Oyetola of damaging President Tinubu’s image and weakening the APC’s standing in the state through his political activities.
The governor urged relevant authorities and democracy organisations to closely monitor developments ahead of the election, insisting that the people of Osun must be allowed to freely choose their next governor.