Ademola Adeleke has cautioned the All Progressives Congress in Osun State against what he described as repeated threats to deploy “federal might” during the August 15 governorship election, insisting that federal institutions exist to strengthen governance and not manipulate electoral outcomes.

The governor, who addressed leaders and ward officials of the Accord structure drawn from the 332 wards across the state in Osogbo on Sunday, said dragging the name of Bola Tinubu into alleged election rigging narratives was unfair and misleading.

According to Adeleke, President Tinubu is focused on governance through infrastructure delivery, student loan programmes and ongoing reforms, stressing that neither the President nor senior figures around him support anti-democratic actions.

He said: “The President is using federal power for good governance, including the reconstruction of the Ibadan-Ilesa road, student loan programmes and the move toward state police. Neither the President nor top leaders around him support threats to disrupt elections in Osun.”

Adeleke accused the Osun APC of promoting anti-democratic rhetoric, adding that the people of the state remain committed to free, fair and credible elections.

“Osun people are passionate about free and fair elections. They want their votes to determine who governs them. Candidates should market their manifestoes and seek votes, not boast about rigging. Only electoral bandits do that in a democracy,” he said.

The governor further urged residents to remain resolute ahead of the governorship poll, declaring that no external force could override the collective will of the electorate.

“I call on Osun people to heighten their preparedness for August 15. Your votes will determine the winners. Ignore those threatening you with federal power; they do not have the support of Mr President,” Adeleke added.

At the gathering, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, charged political leaders to intensify grassroots mobilisation and ensure proper protection of votes during the election.

Also speaking, former senator Olu Alabi urged elders across local government areas to begin strategic mobilisation aimed at securing victory for Adeleke.

Former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Wale Oladipo, alongside Osun PDP chairman Sunday Bisi, reaffirmed support for Adeleke’s re-election and directed party structures across the state to deliver votes for the governor.

Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, who attended with lawmakers, called for aggressive mobilisation, setting a target of over two million registrations within the Accord political structure.

He expressed confidence that Governor Adeleke would secure a decisive victory in the August governorship election.