Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has declared that he will defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the August 8, 2026 election, insisting that the people of the state are firmly behind his administration.

Reacting to comments credited to former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, at the APC governorship primary on Saturday, Adeleke described the opposition’s optimism as misplaced, saying it reflects a failure to grasp the political reality in the state.

“I will beat Oyebamiji by the might of God and the people,” the governor said, dismissing the APC’s chances as “wishful thinking, illusory grandstanding and an inability to accept the deep unpopularity of the party among Osun people.”

In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor said Osun residents have no desire to return to what he described as an anti-people era under the APC.

According to Rasheed, “This is a clear misreading of the political reality in Osun State. The people of the state are fully satisfied with the people-oriented and responsive governance being delivered by the present administration.”

He added that the Adeleke-led government has prioritised workers’ welfare, infrastructural renewal, healthcare delivery, education and inclusive development, arguing that these policies have restored public confidence in governance.

The governor also criticised the APC for what he termed anti-democratic tendencies, accusing the party of resorting to undemocratic tactics rather than engaging voters.

“If you are sure you have the votes of the people, why are you deploying anti-democratic means to stop the unstoppable will of our people?” Adeleke queried. “It is shameful and reprehensible that those who claim to be popular are scared to face the people in a free and fair election.”

Rasheed further accused the APC leadership and its candidate of playing key roles in the alleged mismanagement that plunged the state into economic hardship, marked by half salaries, rising debts and poor service delivery.

“You and your proxy, now the APC’s governorship candidate, were central figures in the mismanagement that plunged Osun State into economic distress. Osun will not go back to the dark days,” he quoted the governor as saying.

Adeleke maintained that his administration is reversing the damage, citing improvements across critical sectors and recent recognitions, including an award for primary healthcare leadership in the South-West.

As the 2026 governorship election draws nearer, the governor urged residents to ignore political propaganda and remain focused on sustaining what he described as the gains of good governance.

“A vote for the APC is a vote for a return to the failures of the past. That is a regression the people of Osun are not prepared to accept,” Adeleke said.