Former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, has declared that no level of intimidation, harassment, or media control by Governor Ademola Adeleke will prevent his defeat in the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Prince Adeleke made this statement while condemning the Governor’s alleged directive to summon heads of broadcast stations and media outlets for questioning over purported violations of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) regulations.
He argued that the Governor’s attempts to suppress dissenting voices through coercive tactics would not deter the opposition or stifle public criticism of his administration.
“No amount of threats or intimidation from Adeleke’s government will derail or discourage us. We are determined to work tirelessly to remove him from office,” he asserted.
According to the former commissioner, “Regardless of their tactics, we will keep speaking out. If the government acts wrongly, we will call it out. They cannot silence us. Even after we lost one of our own, we did not relent. We remain committed to the cause of good governance, justice, and the rule of law. If they want to eliminate all of us, let them try. We are not cowards.”
Prince Adeleke further claimed that Governor Adeleke and his allies were in panic mode over growing opposition momentum, particularly due to high-profile defections from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“It is clear we are winning in 2026. Many key figures who supported Adeleke in the last election have since moved to the APC. That is why the Governor is scrambling, trying to find relevance in a party where there is no vacancy,” he added.
He also referenced the growing popularity of Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji’s gubernatorial bid, stating that the AMBO Movement had become a household name in Osun State and beyond.
“Oyebamiji is clearly the frontrunner. He is the candidate to beat, and we are confident he will lead the APC to victory in 2026,” he said.