Candidates for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election yesterday faced each other at an Arise TV Townhall Meeting in Osogbo, where they spoke tough on their chances and laid out what they would do for the state if elected.

The townhall featured Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, Dr Najeem Salaam of the ADC, and Olajide Esan of the AAC.
The panel was moderated by Dr Reuben Abati, Dr Lasisi Olagunju, Dr Festus Adedayo and Adesuwa Omoruan.

ADELEKE: “I AM NOT AFRAID OF FEDERAL MIGHT”
Governor Adeleke said he was not intimidated by the presence of APC governors and federal support for his opponent.

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

On his performance, he said: “I promised my people of Osun State that I would govern with the fear of God and bring home what is called the dividends of democracy. Our work speaks for itself.”

He listed achievements: “We have constructed about 350 kilometres of roads, with another 160 kilometres under construction.”
On health: “As of today, we have fixed about 200 healthcare centres. We put poles, solar lights, beds and everything is looking so beautiful.”
On agriculture: “We have purchased 31 tractors and provided seedlings and other inputs to farmers.”

He dismissed allegations of militarisation: “I did not militarise Osun. I have no such capacity. I am not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Mr President is the Commander-in-Chief.”

On dancing: “I am a very prudent person and a very serious person. Nobody will stop me from dancing. As I am dancing, I am working.”

He urged voters: “When you vote, stay and make sure your vote is counted. Follow your vote from the unit to the collation centre.”
On state police: “I believe in state police. When I was in the Senate, I was the one that introduced State Policing.”
On the Ede airport: “It’s not my fault that my town got blessed with lands. Experts went around and ended up in Ede.”
And on losing: “Forget about it. I’m not going to lose this election because I’m so confident.”

OYEBAMIJI: “WE WANT TO BANISH HUNGER AND POVERTY”
APC candidate Oyebamiji said governance should be about the entire state, not one area.

“Governance is about people, it’s not about segments. It’s not about an area. It’s the entirety of the state,” he said.

He promised to prioritise agriculture, education, and health: “We want to banish hunger and poverty. I want to invest seriously in agriculture, education, and health.”

He downplayed “federal might” claims: “I have visited 30 local government areas in Osun State three times. Nobody has ever heard that.”

He then challenged the governor on finances: “In 12 years of APC, under former Governors Aregbesola and Oyetola, Osun got only N450 billion. In three and a half years of Adeleke, they have collected N650 billion. How does N650 billion match what we see in Osun today? Worse still, 97 per cent of those resources go to just two local governments. That is an aberration; actually, it is criminal.”

He also said: “The immediate past administration, led by Governor Gboyega Oyetola, left about N15 billion for the incoming administration.”

“I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that our people in Osun are ready for a change. I’m coming here as the incoming governor of Osun, come August 15, 2026,”he declared.

SALAAM: “OSUN PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THUGGERY AGAIN”

ADC’s Dr Najeem Salaam said he was contesting “to build on achievements of past governments that did it well and to correct the challenges that we have today.”

“My government is going to be a people-centred government,” he said.
He highlighted his credentials: “My doctorate degree is not honorary. It’s a doctor of philosophy in political science. I read political science in my first degree, second degree, and up to the PhD level.”

He warned about insecurity: “Osun people do not want thuggery again because they see us as the most peaceful party. Osun is filled with thuggery and ammunition. So, we will bring peace.”

ESAN: “GIVE GOVERNANCE BACK TO THE PEOPLE”
AAC’s Olajide Esan said leadership in Osun had become exploitative.

“Instead of leaders serving the people in Nigeria, especially in Osun State, it is the people who are serving the leaders,” he said.

He proposed: “We have what I call the Osun residents database. This database will give us the opportunity to have the information of Osun residents.”
And: “Financial dashboard will give Osun people the opportunity to monitor and to track government spendings, so that if one error happens, they can call me, ‘youth governor, where is our one naira?’”*

“Accountability is very important. Because the lack of accountability is what is making politics a lucrative business to career politicians,” he added.