By Jeleel Olawale
Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday has charged Osun electorates to resist alleged plans by opposition elements to rig the forthcoming governorship election, urging voters to protect their mandates at all costs.
Speaking before a large gathering of cooperative society members at Freedom Park in Osogbo, the governor accused the Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to manipulate the electoral process.
He called on residents to mobilise massively and stand firm in defence of their votes.
“When they were in power, they misruled and misgoverned. We came in and implemented pro-people policies, programmes and projects. Now they are seeking to steal elections and force their ways into power. Resist them with your ballots,” Adeleke declared.
The Governor urged voters to troop out in large numbers on election day and remain vigilant at their polling units.
“If you see strangers in your polling units, challenge them. If they offer you money, it is your money, collect it and vote against them. Collect the money and report them to law enforcement agents. It is our money; it is your money. Collect their money and vote Imole for continuity of good governance,” he said.
Adeleke told the cheering crowd that his administration had delivered on promises that critics once described as impossible. According to him, his government cleared outstanding half salaries and pension arrears inherited from previous administrations and revived abandoned infrastructure projects across the state.
“They said it was not possible to pay up the half salaries and pension debt. I came in and I am paying that debt. They abandoned several projects; I am completing them. They said Ile-Ife does not deserve a flyover bridge. They ignored Ilesa’s request for the dualisation of Palace to Brewery junction road. In their governance, impossibility was their watchword. In our government, impossibility became a possibility,” he said.
The governor listed infrastructure upgrades in Iwo, Ilesa, Ila-Orangun, Ile-Ife, Ikirun and Osogbo as evidence of what he described as people-oriented governance, adding, “We are the real progressives.”
He also accused opposition figures of hijacking nearly N230 billion belonging to local governments in the state, alleging that the funds were being shared among party loyalists. Adeleke claimed the alleged diversion of local government allocations disrupted grassroots administration and imposed hardship on workers and pensioners.
“If not for the evil hijacking of the Osun LG fund, our administration would have disbursed more funds to the cooperative movement in Osun State. They disrupted local administration; they imposed hardship on local workers and pensioners,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Cooperative Movement formally endorsed Adeleke for a second term in office, citing what it described as unprecedented support for the sector.
The endorsement was announced at the same event by the Executive Secretary of the Federation of Osun Cooperative (FOSCOP), Mr. Tiamiyu Adeoye, who said the decision was unanimous among cooperative leaders and members across the state.
Adeoye noted that the cooperative movement in the old Western Region last experienced similar governmental backing during the era of Obafemi Awolowo as Premier of the Western Region. He recalled that in 1952, Awolowo’s administration provided one million pounds to strengthen cooperative societies, a move he said transformed the sector at the time.
“We have witnessed different administrations in Osun State over the years. However, none has demonstrated the level of commitment and genuine partnership with cooperative societies as seen under Governor Ademola Adeleke. His support mirrors the visionary leadership once provided by Chief Awolowo,” Adeoye said.
He added that recent financial interventions by the Adeleke administration had revitalised grassroots economic activities, empowered small-scale entrepreneurs and strengthened community-based development.
On behalf of over seven million cooperative members in the state, the leadership pledged continued support for the governor in the August 2026 governorship election.
In a related development, a top cooperative leader and APC chieftain from Ifon-Orolu, Alhaji Muhammed Olasunkanmi Muibi, also endorsed Adeleke for a second term, citing his performance in office.
Despite his longstanding affiliation with the APC, Muibi commended the governor’s “Imole” mantra and urged cooperative members across the state to vote and monitor their votes to ensure continuity.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Cooperatives and Empowerment, Hon. Ogungbangbe Bayo, assured members that the administration would continue to expand grants and policy support for cooperative societies. He congratulated the cooperative movement for embracing continuity and urged members to serve as ambassadors of the “Imole” agenda in their communities.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperatives and Empowerment, Hon. Durojaye Isaac, said cooperative societies in the state had benefited immensely under Adeleke’s leadership, describing the administration’s support as unprecedented in the history of the state.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; the Matron General of the Osun Cooperative Movement, Yeye Modupeola Adeleke-Sanni; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun; Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Igbalaye Teslim; Head of Service, Elder Samuel Ayanleye; members of the State Executive Council and other dignitaries.
