Osun State Governor and Accord Party candidate in Saturday’s governorship election, Ademola Adeleke, says he’s confident that his governance record will secure his re-election for a second term.
Adeleke while speaking during the Arise Townhall Meeting and in a series of posts shared on his verified X handle on Tuesday, addressed key issues surrounding state finances, his political realignment and his popular dancing persona.
Addressing election inducements, Adeleke revealed that the state government has been managing tight financial constraints following federal allocations withheld at the local government level for nearly two years.
“As an administration, we do not have the resources to engage in vote buying. We have been using state resources to pay local government workers since our local government allocation was withheld almost two years ago,” he wrote.
The Governor, however, expressed confidence in the electorate, saying, “I do not need to buy votes to win election. I have been giving workers palliative since 2023. I believe in my work to speak for me.”
Speaking on his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to contest on the platform of the Accord Party, Adeleke admitted the decision was painful but necessary due to internal strife within his former party.
“I left the PDP to join Accord because of the crisis in the PDP then. I love PDP so much, and it was difficult to leave. I would have run as an independent candidate in this election if it were allowed in Nigeria,” he said.
Popularly known for his lively public appearances, Adeleke also pushed back against critics who suggest his joyous demeanour distracts from governance, maintaining that his celebratory style is rooted in family tradition and does not hinder operational delivery.
“I dance because in my family, we are jolly good fellows. As I am dancing, I am working. There is time for everything; there is time to dance, and there is time to work. Dancing does not stop me from working. I have delivered across all sectors,” he wrote in a separate post.
The governor’s comments follow earlier declarations at the town hall meeting where he dismissed concerns over the opposition All Progressives Congress deploying federal support or state governors to influence the outcome of the polls.
Adeleke described himself as a bulldozer, saying that the presence of governors supporting the APC candidate would not determine the outcome of the election.
