Osun State Governor and Accord Party governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, has said his administration’s financial constraints will not prevent him from securing re-election in Saturday’s governorship election.
Adeleke, speaking at the Arise Townhall Meeting and in posts on his verified X handle on Tuesday, said his government had been forced to operate under significant financial pressure after federal allocations to local governments in the state were withheld for nearly two years.
The governor said the financial situation had limited his administration’s ability to engage in vote-buying, insisting that his record in office would be sufficient to secure the support of voters.
“As an administration, we do not have the resources to engage in vote buying. We have been using state resources to pay local government workers since our local government allocation was withheld almost two years ago,” Adeleke said.
He added that his administration had provided palliatives to workers since 2023 and expressed confidence that voters would assess his performance before casting their ballots.
“I do not need to buy votes to win election. I have been giving workers palliative since 2023. I believe in my work to speak for me,” he said.
The governor’s comments come as the August 15 election enters its final stretch, with candidates seeking to convince voters on their economic, governance and development records.
Adeleke also addressed his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which he won the 2022 governorship election, to contest the forthcoming poll under the Accord Party.
He said the move was driven by internal crisis within the PDP, describing the decision to leave the party as difficult despite his longstanding attachment to it.
READ ALSO:Atiku demands accountability over ₦144.86bn safe schools fund
“I left the PDP to join Accord because of the crisis in the PDP then. I love PDP so much, and it was difficult to leave. I would have run as an independent candidate in this election if it were allowed in Nigeria,” he said.
Adeleke’s comments place his re-election campaign around two key arguments: his administration’s performance and his ability to navigate the financial pressures confronting the state.
The governor is seeking to retain his position in a closely watched election featuring the All Progressives Congress candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and other contenders.
With the election only days away, Adeleke is betting that voters will prioritise his administration’s record and development claims over the financial and political controversies surrounding his government.
