Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has called on residents to defend their democratic rights ahead of the August 15 governorship election, insisting that voters must not be intimidated in the exercise of their franchise.
Speaking on Tuesday at the flag-off of his re-election campaign at Freedom Park, Osogbo, the governor urged supporters to mobilise across polling units, saying their votes would count.
Governor Adeleke said, “Great people of Osun, we cannot and must not go back to the dark days. We must rise and defend our democratic rights.
”We cannot be intimidated in the exercise of our voting rights. This is our state, the cradle of the Yoruba nation. By God’s grace and the people’s support, continuity shall prevail.”
The governor maintained that his Administration would continue to reject violence while insisting on the protection of citizens’ rights.
”We reject violence, and we declare our readiness to protect and defend our rights and our people. Go out and mobilise. Accord will be on the ballot. We will vote. Our votes will count. We shall be victorious”, he noted.
The governor used the occasion to unveil an updated five-point agenda for a second term, focusing on youth, women and workers’ welfare; infrastructure development; agro-industrial expansion; improved healthcare and education; and job creation through an improved business environment.
Governor Adeleke further restated his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, describing it as unshaken and total.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Folorunso Bamisaye, who is a supporter of Iyiola Omisore, ex-National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), said Adeleke’s political strength had been proven over time, recalling his repeated electoral victories over the APC in previous contests.
Bamisaye said, “When Adeleke was alone without our support, he beat our party, the APC, three times. In 2017, he won 9 LGAs out of 10, in 2018, he won us with 353 votes before we sorted it, in 2022, he crashed us on the floor that we could not even stand up with 28,000 votes.”
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