Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that the people of the state will not succumb to intimidation or external interference ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The governor made the statement on Thursday through his official social media account, hours after operatives of the Osun State Police Command arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, over allegations of vote buying.
Although Adeleke did not directly address the arrest, he insisted that the people of Osun have a long history of defending their democratic rights and would not allow any form of intimidation to influence the outcome of the election.
According to the governor, the will of the electorate will ultimately determine the outcome of the poll, expressing confidence that the people’s mandate cannot be undermined by external forces.
Adeleke also maintained that public support for his administration remains strong, citing ongoing projects and reforms across key sectors of the state. He said his government’s investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, workers’ welfare and pension reforms have positively impacted residents and strengthened public confidence in his administration.
The governor expressed optimism that the achievements of his administration would earn him another term in office, stating that a second tenure would consolidate ongoing development programmes and deliver greater progress across the state.
He further called on residents to remain peaceful, united and vigilant throughout the electoral process, urging eligible voters to participate actively in the election and protect the integrity of their votes.
The governor’s remarks came shortly after the arrest of the Osun SSG by the police over alleged vote-buying activities, an incident that has heightened political tension ahead of the governorship election.
Meanwhile, security agencies have continued preparations to ensure a peaceful, credible and violence-free election across Osun State as political parties intensify their campaigns.
