Osun Political Battle Heats Up: Adeleke Fires Back at Aregbesola Over 2026 Threat

Osogbo, Osun State – A political war of words has erupted in Osun State as Governor Ademola Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, vehemently responded to a threat by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola to unseat him in the 2026 governorship election. Adeleke’s administration strongly criticized Aregbesola’s eight-year tenure, labeling it as the “worst in Osun’s history” and accusing him of leaving a legacy of financial mismanagement and hardship.

The strong rebuke from Governor Adeleke came after Mr. Aregbesola, now the interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declared at a recent homecoming event in Osogbo that his new party would dislodge the incumbent administration. Aregbesola, a former Minister of Interior, also took the opportunity to criticize the current federal administration over economic hardship. This marks a new chapter in the political dynamics, especially given Aregbesola’s past fallout with the All Progressives Congress (APC) which led to his expulsion from the party and his group’s eventual support for Adeleke in the 2022 elections.

Governor Adeleke, through his statement issued today in Osogbo, reminded Aregbesola that Osun is still reeling from what he termed “inhumane maladministration.” The statement highlighted issues such as “huge state debt, half salary, scam tablets, and several fanciful, inflated, uncompleted projects” as hallmarks of Aregbesola’s time in office.

“The empty boast of Mr. Aregbesola about 2026 is a symptom of a troubled mind who sees wrong vision, who is battling his benefactor and who is haunted by the pains and suffering he inflicted on millions of Osun people,” Mallam Rasheed stated. He further accused Aregbesola of “wickedness against workers, public servants, and Osun people” for introducing half salary, misapplying contributory state pension funds, and misusing state cooperative deductions.

In stark contrast, the Adeleke administration asserts it has been diligently clearing the “mess” left behind. According to the Governor’s spokesperson, 28 months of the half salary backlog have been paid, and close to 60 billion naira in pension debt, a legacy of the Aregbesola era, has been settled. The administration also claims to have reduced Osun’s debt by 40 percent, a fact reportedly confirmed by the Debt Management Office, all without borrowing a kobo for new infrastructure projects.

Governor Adeleke’s administration listed several achievements within its less than three years in office, including:

1.Construction of approximately 200 kilometers of roads.

2.Rehabilitation of over 200 schools and health centers.

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3.Enrolment of over 30,000 pensioners on free health insurance care.

4.Provision of critical medical surgeries to over 60,000 Osun residents through the “Imole Surgical and Medical Outreach.”

5.Completion of several abandoned projects at Osun State University and making the University of Ilesa a reality.

6 .Implementation of local content and non-borrowing policies.

7.Upgrade of Sen. Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke College of Cooperative Studies Ode-Omu to a Uniosun Campus for Cooperative Studies.

The statement concluded with a stern warning to Aregbesola, suggesting that “2026 is a payback time when Osun people will punish the former Governor and his new party for wilfully inflicting pains and suffering on Osun people throughout his eight years rule.”

The early exchange sets the stage for a fiery political contest as Osun State heads towards its next gubernatorial election.