Osun 2026: Atiku takes battle to Adeleke, Oyebamiji, rallies support for Salaam

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Monday took the party’s campaign battle to Osogbo, rallying support for its governorship candidate, Senator Najeem Salaam, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Atiku, who spoke at the grand finale of the ADC governorship campaign in Osogbo, urged the people of Osun State to vote for Salaam, declaring that the ADC currently parades “the best of Nigerians.”

The former Vice President, while appealing to the electorate to support the former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, recalled the support he had received from Osun voters during previous elections.

According to him, the people of the state had consistently demonstrated their political loyalty to him, noting that he could not forget their previous support.

Atiku said: “This is the fourth time I am standing on this podium. Each time I stood here, you have given me your vote. I cannot forget that because your daughter is in my house.

“I came here for the current governor and I told you people to support him and you voted him. I came here on my presidential campaign, you voted for me and you defeated Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“For me, I can’t forget that. I have come today to appeal to you again to vote ADC. This is because ADC is different from APC, Accord and other political parties.

“That is because the best of Nigerians are today in ADC.”

Atiku expressed confidence that the electorate would not regret voting for Salaam, urging them to repeat their previous support for him by backing the ADC candidate on Saturday.

He said the impressive turnout at the campaign rally had further strengthened the party’s optimism about its chances at the poll.

Mark urges voters to defend their ballots

Earlier, the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, described the campaign finale as a celebration of the party’s anticipated victory at Saturday’s election.

Mark urged ADC supporters to come out en masse to vote and protect their ballots against electoral manipulation.

He said: “What we are here to do is celebrate the victory that we are going to come to the ADC on Saturday.

“Our Presidential candidate is here with us, and this shows the love he has for this party.

“By the time we swear in Najeem Salam in November, we will be here again to march with you to the Government House.

“On Saturday, protect your votes. Don’t allow anybody to rig you out. They will not rig and get away with it.”

Salaam unveils agenda

Speaking at the rally, Salaam outlined some of his proposed programmes if elected governor, promising to tackle electricity, education, healthcare, youth unemployment and agricultural development.

The ADC candidate promised to revitalise the energy sector and provide stable electricity across the state.

He also pledged free education from primary to secondary school, while promising to establish a committee to review tuition fees in the state’s tertiary institutions with a view to reducing the financial burden on students and their parents.

Salaam further promised free medical treatment for children between the ages of one and 18, free healthcare for pregnant women and welfare programmes for elderly citizens and widows.

On youth unemployment, he promised to employ 20,000 youths within his first 100 days in office.

He also pledged to empower farmers, expand agricultural opportunities and take other measures to improve the livelihood of residents.

Aregbesola: ADC not in alliance

The ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, told the gathering that the party was not in an alliance with any political party for the Osun governorship election.

He urged ADC supporters to remain focused and vote for the party, while charging the electorate to reject electoral manipulation.

Aregbesola said the ADC was the only party in the country that had embraced what he described as the governance philosophy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

He described Salaam as the face of continuity and highlighted some of the candidate’s proposed programmes, including the revival of O’YES to create employment for 20,000 youths, restoration of the O’MEALS school feeding programme, expansion of mechanised agriculture and investment in rural infrastructure and technology.

“This election is about the future of Osun. Quality education, youth opportunities, farmer prosperity, and a government that truly serves the people,” Aregbesola said.

The rally was attended by several national and state leaders of the ADC, including former Borno State PDP governorship candidate, Kashim Imam; former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Waziri; Senator Austin Akobondu; former Ondo State PDP governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN; ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; National Legal Adviser, Prof. Osahereme Osunbor; and National Vice Chairman, South-West, Akin Omole, among others.

The rally further heightened the political temperature in Osun as the three major contenders and their supporters intensify their final push for votes ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.