The Director-general of the Osun Central, All Progressives Congress, (APC) Governorship Campaign Council, Prince Bayo Adeleke, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke’s allies of being responsible for attacks in the state, while dismissing the governor’s allegations against former Governor Gboyega Oyetola as false.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, following cases of violence and unrest in Osun State less than two weeks to the governorship election, Adeleke dismissed Governor Adeleke’s allegations linking former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to violent incidents across the state, while accusing members of the opposition of being responsible for attacks.
“Governor Adeleke should please stop this. All these claims are lies. He claims they are killing his people, but it is his people who killed our chairman in Ilesa West. So it is the governor who is bringing this insecurity,” he alleged.
Adeleke accused Governor Adeleke’s administration of worsening insecurity in the state, alleging that the governor has failed to address the activities of individuals he described as criminals linked to his government. Insisting, however, that the police are taking action, Adeleke said security agencies are now going after those responsible for the violence.
“The governor himself cannot say he is not dining and wining with these criminals, but he is crying foul because what they did in 2022 is what they think will repeat itself. But the police are up to it,” he said.
He further alleged that the insecurity in Osun State began when Governor Adeleke assumed office on November 27, 2022, claiming that the governor’s executive order removing some traditional rulers triggered crises in several communities.
Adeleke also alleged that APC members had been repeatedly targeted in politically motivated attacks since then, while calling on President Bola Tinubu to direct the governor to remove individuals he described as wanted criminals from the state.
“The issue of insecurity in Osun State did not start just recently. It actually started at the inception of the government of Governor Adeleke. Immediately he assumed office on November 27, 2022, he made a proclamation using his executive order to remove some traditional rulers (Obas), and that caused serious crises in those communities,” he alleged further.
“Apart from that, the 2022 election witnessed the killing of members of the APC—no less than 20 of our members were killed then. In 2025, the same thing continued. One of our chairmen, Remi Abbas—the chairman of the Ilesa West Local Government—was killed on February 17, 2025, as he was resuming office. Unfortunately, since then, there has been one killing or another.
“We are also calling on our President to tell the Governor of Osun State to push out all these wanted criminals,” he appealed.
Responding to allegations that former Governor Gboyega Oyetola was behind the violence, Adeleke dismissed the claims as false, alleging that the ruling party was attempting to suppress voter turnout as it did in 2022.
He maintained that Osun residents were eager to vote, insisted that Oyetola remained popular, and claimed that the police were pursuing individuals wanted over violent incidents in the state.
“Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, is popular. Speaking honestly, the people are tired of Governor Adeleke. The Adeleke campaign team released a press statement listing people they accused the police of wanting to arrest for no reason. They are planning the same thing now, but because the police are after these thugs and wanted criminals, they are crying foul. Osun people want to vote,” he said.
On the APC’s campaign message, Adeleke dismissed the Accord Party’s claim that it was the party to beat, describing it as “packaged.” He argued that if the party was truly popular, it would not resort to violence, and urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to allow a free and fair election. He maintained that the APC remained the party to beat and expressed confidence in its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as ‘AMBO’.
“Everything about the Accord Party is packaged. If they know they are popular, there is no need for violence. Governor Adeleke should allow people to vote. They are expecting a repeat of 2022, where voting continued until 11:00 PM in some areas. We did not lose that election; we got over 350,000 votes.The party to beat today is the APC, and our candidate is Bola Oyebami,” he stressed.
Reacting to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s call for visa bans on former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and other political figures over alleged election violence, Adeleke dismissed the move, saying the governor was “confused.” He argued that Oyetola was no longer involved in Osun politics and claimed the current governor’s political coalition was collapsing ahead of the election, insisting that the APC wanted a free and fair poll.
“Governor Adeleke is confused. How can you bring in former Governor Oyetola? The man served for four years, is now a Minister, and is on his own. What is his concern with this?
“Why is he talking about Fadahunsi? Fadahunsi left his party—he was the one who delivered the Eastern Senatorial District in 2022, and now he is no longer with him. Governor Adeleke is going to lose every part of the East Senatorial District. In the Central Senatorial District, key figures who supported him previously, like Olalere Oyewumi, have also left.
“His coalition is falling apart, which is why he is panicking. We want a free and fair election,” he maintained.
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