Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the All Progressives Congress of planning to rig Saturday’s governorship election, following comments by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

Adeleke made the allegation in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in Osogbo on Sunday.

Oyetola had on Saturday urged Adeleke to prepare for defeat in the August 15 election, saying the governor’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu would not save his administration.

Speaking to APC stakeholders and supporters in Osun, Oyetola said Adeleke’s complaints about alleged intimidation of opposition members showed that the governor had realised he was losing support in the state.

He said, “They realised that they are already losing out. Then they claimed to have endorsed us. He almost cried. Endorsement cannot retain this seat for you. We are taking it over.”

Reacting, Adeleke described the minister’s statement as an “open threat” to rig the election and called on democracy advocates to take note.

The governor said his administration would resist any attempt to manipulate the poll and demanded a free and fair election.

Adeleke also alleged that Oyetola’s activities were damaging President Tinubu’s image and weakening the APC’s popularity in Osun.

He said, “A serving minister of the Republic had made an open threat against a free and fair election. The minister has personally confirmed all previous reports that Osun APC has lost the electoral confidence of the people and is therefore focused only on rigging next Saturday.”

The governor further accused the minister of making light of the deaths and injuries allegedly suffered by Accord supporters during recent political violence in the state.

However, Adeleke expressed confidence in his re-election, saying Osun voters would reject the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

“As for us, we are winning this election by the grace of God and mass support of the people. We are not going to snatch the democratic rights of the people as Mr Oyetola had threatened. We will be re-elected by the choice of the voters,” he said.