The political atmosphere in Osun State has intensified ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with Governor Ademola Adeleke challenging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of the state’s statutory allocation account, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejects allegations of planned rigging and political violence.
The heightened tension has also prompted a major security deployment, with the police announcing that 15,000 personnel will be deployed across the state to secure the election.
At the centre of the latest controversy is the alleged directive by the EFCC to First Bank to place a post-no-debit restriction on the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account. Adeleke has demanded an explanation from EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, insisting that the restriction was imposed without a court order.
The governor has described the action as an attempt to undermine his administration and directed the state Attorney-General to challenge it at the Federal High Court. Adeleke also alleged that former governor Gboyega Oyetola was behind the pressure against his administration, linking the development to what he described as a broader campaign of political harassment ahead of the election.
The accusations have further widened the political divide in the state, with opposition parties pushing back against the governor’s claims.
The APC dismissed Adeleke’s allegations of planned rigging and violence as politically motivated, with the party’s national secretary, Surajudeen Bashiru, describing the governor’s comments as a reflection of his “fear of imminent defeat.”
The APC campaign council also made counter-allegations, claiming that more than 30 of its members and supporters had been killed since 2022. The party denied Adeleke’s claims that local government allocations were being withheld, insisting that councils in the state receive their statutory allocations.
The dispute over government finances has also attracted the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which condemned what it described as the withholding of Osun local government funds. The party accused the Federal Government of using financial pressure as a political weapon ahead of the election, describing the alleged action as “political terrorism.”
The ADC further alleged that unelected APC loyalists remained in some local government offices and accused security agencies of arbitrary arrests of opposition figures. These allegations add another layer to the increasingly bitter contest, although the party did not provide evidence for some of the claims.
As the political parties trade accusations, the police have moved to strengthen security arrangements across the state.
Commissioner of Police for the election, Samuel Erale Etaifo, said 15,000 personnel had been deployed for the exercise, including conventional police officers, the Police Mobile Force, canine units and medical teams.
Etaifo warned that anyone found attempting to disrupt the election, whether a police officer, politician or party supporter, would face the law. He also directed that electoral offenders arrested during the exercise would be moved to Abuja rather than detained in Osun.
The security build-up comes against the backdrop of reports of violence and killings in parts of the state, further raising concerns about the conduct of the election.
Meanwhile, the campaign has continued to generate controversy beyond the disputes over money and security.
The Adeleke administration has rejected an APC newspaper advertorial criticising the condition of a road as evidence of the governor’s failure to deliver infrastructure. Commissioner for Information Kolapo Alimi said the road featured in the advert was actually located at Mukoro in Ile-Ife, rather than Modakeke as claimed by the APC, and alleged that it was constructed during Oyetola’s administration.
Alimi described the advert as misinformation and said the Adeleke government had undertaken remedial work on several projects inherited from the previous administration.
The competing claims reflect the broader political battle between Adeleke and the APC as both sides seek to shape public opinion before election day.
Adeleke won the 2022 governorship election with 403,371 votes, defeating Oyetola, who polled 375,027 votes. The 2026 contest is again shaping up as a closely watched political battle, with APC candidate Munirudeen “AMBO” Oyebamiji facing Adeleke.
With the election now approaching, the frozen state account controversy, accusations of political violence, disputes over local government finances, heightened police deployment and increasingly aggressive campaign rhetoric have combined to make the Osun poll one of the most closely watched political contests in the country.
The immediate focus is now on whether the competing parties can de-escalate tensions and whether the security and electoral authorities can deliver a peaceful and credible vote on August 15, 2026.
