ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Governor Ademola Adeleke on Thursday declared that no amount of intimidation or political pressure would influence the outcome of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, insisting that residents would freely decide who governs them.
The governor’s remarks came barely hours after Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, regained his freedom from police custody following his arrest over alleged vote-buying, a development that has further heightened political tension in the state.
In a statement, Adeleke maintained that Osun people had never surrendered to intimidation, expressing confidence that the electorate would return his administration for another term based on its performance.
“Throughout the history of Osun State, our people have never bowed to intimidation. We are resilient, determined, and fiercely protective of our rights,” the governor said.
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He argued that his administration’s achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, workers’ welfare and pension reforms had earned widespread public support, adding that opinion polls continued to favour the Accord Party ahead of the election.
“As we approach the August 15 governorship election, I have absolute confidence that no amount of external interference or intimidation can override the collective will of the people of Osun State,” Adeleke stated.
The governor further expressed optimism that a second term would enable his administration to consolidate on ongoing development projects across the state.
His comments followed the arrest of Igbalaye and five other suspects after police operatives raided the SSG’s private residence in Osogbo, where they allegedly recovered Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), cash and a voters’ register in connection with suspected vote-buying activities.
The Osun State Police Command, however, confirmed that the SSG had been released while investigations into the allegations continue.
Police spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said only the SSG had regained his freedom, adding that detectives were still working on the case.
“I can only tell you that the SSG, Mr Teslim Igbalaye, has been released this afternoon and investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
The command identified the other suspects as Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as Abbey Ashipa, described as a wanted murder suspect, alongside Taiwo Akande, Lukman Adeyemo, Muftau Olaoye and Musiliu Aderemi.
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Reacting to the development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council demanded Igbalaye’s immediate resignation, accusing the state government of shielding criminal suspects.
The opposition also challenged Governor Adeleke to match his earlier pledge of allowing anyone found wanting to face the law by permitting security agencies to prosecute all suspects arrested during the operation.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that he had received intelligence suggesting plans by the police to implicate and arrest him before the governorship election.
Describing the SSG’s arrest as an abuse of power, Egbedun claimed that unnamed police officers had, for weeks, been plotting to frame him, alleging that the move was politically motivated.
According to Vanguard, the Speaker further linked the alleged plan to previous disagreements with the state Commissioner of Police over security concerns surrounding his residence, warning that any attempt to intimidate political actors could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
This fresh twist has intensified the political atmosphere in Osun, with both the ruling Accord Party and the APC trading accusations as campaigns enter the final stretch ahead of the August 15 governorship election.