Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has accused former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, of allegedly plotting to disrupt the August 15 governorship election in the state, claiming the opposition is acting out of fear of imminent defeat.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke said recent actions and comments from opposition figures suggest desperation following what he described as declining political support for the APC in Osun State.

According to the statement, the opposition has resorted to what it termed “anti-democratic tactics” after allegedly realising they stand little chance in the forthcoming poll.

“Out of fear of defeat, Mr Oyetola and his imposed candidate are desperate to disrupt the August 15 election. Having seen clearly that Osun people have rejected them, they are now resorting to anti-democratic means in a last-ditch effort to secure power,” the statement read.

The governor’s camp also cited what it described as internal opinion surveys allegedly commissioned by the APC between late 2025 and early 2026, claiming the party’s popularity had fallen below 30 percent, while Adeleke’s approval rating reportedly remained between 68 and 72 percent.

“This clearly shows that Governor Adeleke enjoys overwhelming support from the people. The opposition can already see the outcome ahead of August 15,” the statement added.

The statement further alleged that recent political developments, including comments credited to Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi on the position of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the Osun election, had unsettled the APC camp and dispelled hopes of external interference.

It also accused the opposition of engaging in several failed attempts to destabilise the state government, including alleged efforts to trigger a state of emergency, instigate crises in local government councils, and obstruct the governor’s electoral participation.

“They attempted to prevent Governor Adeleke from appearing on the ballot, but they failed. They tried to factionalise political platforms, and they failed. Now they are pushing new schemes, and they will fail again,” the statement said.

Reiterating confidence in victory, Adeleke was quoted as saying his re-election bid would be decided by the will of the people.

“The bottom line is clear: they know they will lose. They are afraid of the people and the power of the ballot,” the statement added.

The governor expressed optimism that he would defeat the APC candidate at the polls, attributing his confidence to public support and divine backing.