The Special Adviser to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Aare Oladotun Hassan, has claimed that the governor enjoys about 85 per cent grassroots support ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, despite what he described as intimidation and political pressure from opposition forces.
Hassan, who is also the Sooko Agoriésin of Ife, made the assertion while speaking on Inside Scoop, a current affairs programme on Adamimogo 105.1FM, Ibadan, as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the August 15 election.
According to him, the political atmosphere in Osun has been characterised by tension, which he attributed largely to alleged interference by security agencies and the recent decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze the state government’s accounts.
Hassan described the developments as undemocratic and alleged that they were part of attempts to intimidate the governor and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the election.
He argued that despite the challenges, Adeleke remained the candidate with the strongest grassroots support, citing the governor’s interaction with residents, payment of salaries and pension obligations, as well as infrastructure projects across the state as evidence of his popularity.
“The governor has the love of the people at heart. He pays salaries and interacts with the people daily to understand their needs,” Hassan said.
He also pointed to several projects undertaken by the administration, including road construction and other infrastructure interventions, as part of the governor’s record in office.
Hassan also played down the political significance of former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s reported decision to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Oyinlola, a former governor under the PDP, had initially supported Adeleke but has since aligned with the APC candidate.
Hassan argued that the movement of individual political figures would not necessarily translate into a shift in the preferences of ordinary voters.
He maintained that the electorate, rather than political elites, would ultimately determine the outcome of Saturday’s election.
According to him, the PDP campaign still enjoys considerable support across the grassroots, including among some members of the opposition APC.
He described the activities of opposition politicians as evidence of what he called “panic” within the APC, insisting that political endorsements by prominent individuals should not be mistaken for the broader wishes of Osun voters.
Hassan also raised concerns about the role of security agencies in the election, particularly the Osun State Commissioner of Police.
He alleged that the police command had demonstrated partiality and called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission to intervene.
Hassan said he had written to the Police Service Commission seeking action over what he described as the conduct of the state Commissioner of Police.
He argued that an electoral process could not be considered credible if security agencies were perceived to be taking sides.
According to him, the governor himself had refrained from using his position to intimidate political opponents, insisting that Adeleke had repeatedly discouraged violence and retaliation.
“The governor has even said nobody should shed blood on his behalf. Even if his own son or family member is caught in the web, they should be arrested,” he said.
Defending the governor’s performance over the past three years, Hassan said the administration should be judged by its record in office rather than campaign rhetoric.
He cited infrastructure development, youth empowerment and education among the areas where he believed the administration had made significant progress.
Hassan also highlighted the payment of salaries and pensions as one of the administration’s major achievements, particularly given Osun’s dependence on the civil service.
He claimed that the state government currently spends billions of naira monthly on workers and local government employees while also maintaining its pension obligations.
For him, those measures demonstrate that Adeleke has the capacity to continue governing the state if re-elected.
As the countdown to August 15 continues, Hassan appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the election is conducted transparently and without logistical setbacks.
He urged the electoral body to deploy sensitive materials to polling units on time and ensure that voting begins as scheduled.
He also called on security agencies to protect voters and electoral officials rather than intimidate them.
“INEC must stand strong. The whole world is watching,” Hassan said, urging security personnel to arrest anyone found attempting to intimidate voters or disrupt the electoral process.
The election is expected to be a closely watched contest, with Adeleke of the PDP seeking another term against the APC’s Oyebamiji and other candidates.
With only days remaining before voters go to the polls, the competing claims of the major political camps are likely to intensify as both sides seek to consolidate their support across Osun State.
