Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has raised concerns over what he described as attempts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to invoke “federal might” to influence the upcoming governorship election in the state.

Speaking at a meeting with leaders and ward officials of the Accord Party across all 332 wards, Adeleke said federal power should be used for good governance, not electoral manipulation. He accused the APC of dragging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name into partisan rhetoric by alleging that federal institutions would be deployed to sway the poll.

“The President is using federal power to deliver good governance… not for election rigging,” Adeleke said, citing ongoing infrastructure projects and policy initiatives as examples of federal authority being used for public benefit. He urged residents to remain vigilant, stressing that votes—not threats—should determine the election outcome. “Our people are passionate about free and fair elections. Only electoral bandits boast of rigging in a democracy,” he added.

Support for Adeleke’s re-election was reaffirmed at the gathering by prominent political figures, including Adewale Egbedun, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf; and Senator Olu Alabi. Party leaders and supporters called for intensified grassroots mobilisation to defend votes and ensure a credible poll.

The political landscape ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election has been shaped by Governor Adeleke’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party in December 2025, citing internal leadership crises within the PDP. He subsequently emerged as the sole candidate of the Accord Party for a second term.

The upcoming contest, scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission for August 15, is expected to attract close attention across the South-West, with parties intensifying preparations for the election.