Adeleke sues for peace ahead of Osun guber election
By Taiwo Scholarstica
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid violence and allow voters to freely determine the outcome of the 2026 governorship election.
Adeleke made the appeal while speaking at the ARISE News Town Hall on the 2026 Osun governorship election, where he discussed the growing political activities in the state, campaign billboards, security arrangements and the need for a peaceful electoral process.
The governor expressed concern over the destruction of campaign billboards, questioning why anyone who was confident of winning an election would resort to attacking the campaign materials of an opponent.
According to him, his administration has chosen not to respond to such actions with retaliation, saying he had directed his supporters to leave the billboards of other candidates untouched.
“If you know that you can win, why are you destroying my billboard? And I told my people, don’t destroy their billboard, leave it. Your governor is a peaceful person, let the whole world see what they are doing,” Adeleke said.
He maintained that political competition should be about convincing voters and presenting ideas rather than destroying campaign materials or creating tension among supporters.
Adeleke also suggested that attempts to frustrate his campaign could produce the opposite result by generating sympathy among members of the public.
He said his approach would remain peaceful despite provocations, insisting that his supporters should not be encouraged to retaliate whenever they are confronted by opponents.
“The more they hurt us, the more people love us. I say it again, when they go low, we go high,” he said.
The governor also responded to concerns about the presence of security agencies in Osun, particularly suggestions that the state had been militarised ahead of the election.
Adeleke rejected the claim, explaining that he does not have control over the armed forces or the police.
He noted that the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has authority over the military, while the Chief of Army Staff and Inspector-General of Police oversee their respective institutions.
He said the decision to deploy security agencies was not within his control, adding that their presence could be necessary to protect lives and property.
According to the governor, security agencies have an important responsibility to ensure that political activities and the election itself are conducted without threats to voters, candidates or electoral officials.
Adeleke said he welcomed efforts aimed at improving security in the state, particularly against the backdrop of concerns over violence during election campaigns.
He, however, stressed that security arrangements must not be used to intimidate voters or interfere with their right to choose their preferred candidate.
The governor emphasised his support for a free and fair election, saying democracy would only have meaning if the people were allowed to make their choice without fear or pressure.
“It is the people. It’s the Osun people that will decide. So I’m always preaching free and fair election,” he said.
Adeleke also spoke directly to his supporters, urging them to exercise restraint before, during and after voting.
He advised them not to fight anyone at polling units, even if they were deliberately provoked.
Rather than responding to insults or physical provocation, he urged them to remain focused on voting and allow the electoral process to take its course.
He said supporters should understand that fighting at polling units could create unnecessary tension and potentially distract voters from exercising their rights.
While defending his administration’s record, Adeleke also expressed confidence that his performance in office would help him secure another term.
He urged the electorate to assess what his administration had achieved and make their decision based on its record rather than political propaganda or confrontation.