Osun Guber Battle Heats Up: Campaigns Clash, Primate Calls for Divine Will

The upcoming Osun State governorship election, scheduled for August 15, 2026, has become a focal point of political discussion and spiritual warnings, with Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church cautioning against any attempts to influence its outcome. In a statement released through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele specifically urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from interfering with the election. He warned that any manipulation of the Osun poll or the imposition of a candidate through unlawful means would inevitably lead to severe negative consequences, stressing that the election's results should genuinely reflect both the divine will and the wishes of the electorate.

Primate Ayodele further underscored the profound implications of the Osun election, linking its potential manipulation to a national crisis that could significantly impact the 2027 presidential election. He advised President Tinubu to resist all temptations and counsel that might lead him to have a hand in the election's outcome, reiterating that it would "not end well" if the will of God and the people were influenced or changed. Beyond political interference, the cleric also voiced concerns about potential violence during the election, calling upon the Inspector-General of Police and the military to ensure robust security deployment. He alleged that certain groups had concluded plans to instigate trouble, which could lead to bloodshed if not properly managed, emphasizing the critical need to protect the people at all costs.

Advising Governor Ademola Adeleke, Primate Ayodele cautioned him to remain vigilant, describing the election as potentially resembling "war" due to the opposition's determination to unseat him. He characterized the contest as one involving "money, violence and manipulation," warning that despite being "the right person for the people of Osun," Adeleke could be rigged out if he did not stand well and stay alert. Concurrently, he urged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their supporters to avoid violence and acts that could disrupt the electoral process.

Adding to the election discourse, the Imole Campaign Council (TICC) vehemently dismissed the boastful claims made by Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Yilwatda had suggested that the deployment of APC governors, National Assembly members, local government chairmen, and other political heavyweights would overwhelmingly defeat Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15, 2026 election. The Campaign Council, through a statement signed by Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, branded the APC National Chairman’s "trailer versus Keke Napep" analogy as a clear display of political arrogance. The TICC argued that this analogy revealed a fundamental misunderstanding by the APC leadership of the true realities of the Osun political landscape.

The TICC firmly asserted that elections are ultimately won by the people, not by the sheer number of political officeholders a party can rally from outside the state. They stated that the people of Osun State are not passive "political cargo" to be influenced or moved around by external figures, but are instead fully capable of making independent choices based on the performance of the incumbent government. The Council declared that the upcoming election would not be a mere contest of numerical strength or political machinery, but rather a direct confrontation between a performing governor who has earned the confidence of his people and an APC candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, who they claimed is struggling to gain acceptance among the electorate.

Highlighting Governor Adeleke’s strengths, the TICC pointed to his tremendous goodwill among the populace, attributing it to the visible achievements of his administration across vital sectors such as road infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers' welfare, water supply, agriculture, and youth empowerment. They specifically mentioned Adeleke's commissioning of the dualized Akoda–Oke Gada road in Ede as an example of his administration's impact. The Council also suggested that the APC's heavy reliance on political figures from outside Osun was a clear indicator of their candidate’s inability to independently mobilize local support. They urged the APC to abandon its boasts about political structures and external mobilization, and instead focus its campaign on substantive issues, governmental performance, and credible leadership, thereby respecting the intelligence of the Osun electorate.