The Osun State Governor and governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that he is not intimidated by the alleged backing of the Federal Government and some state governors for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

Adeleke, who described himself as a “bulldozer,” said he was prepared to confront what he described as federal might and the influence of governors mobilising support for his opponent ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The governor stated this on Tuesday during the Arise Townhall Meeting in Osogbo.

Adeleke, while responding to questions on the perceived political influence of the Federal Government and APC governors in the election, said he remained confident of victory.

He declared, “I am a bulldozer. I am talk and do. I am not afraid of federal might and governors backing the APC candidate. If they like, they should bring all the governors.”

The governor said the governors backing his opponent were his friends, insisting that their presence in the state would not determine the outcome of the election.

According to him, the visiting governors would not vote in the election, arguing that their role was limited to political mobilisation.

He said, “Those governors are my friends. I am a civilised administrator. They won’t vote; they can only come and dance, and after the election, we will meet.”

Adeleke also dismissed allegations that his administration had militarised the state, saying he lacked the constitutional authority to deploy the armed forces.

The governor said, “I did not militarise Osun. I have no such capacity. I am not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”

His comments came as political activities intensified across Osun State, with the major political parties stepping up their campaigns, mobilisation and efforts to win voters ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The election has increasingly assumed a high-stakes character, with the ruling Accord Party, APC and other contenders intensifying their campaigns in the final days before voters head to the polls.