Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has warned Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke that his support for President Bola Tinubu will not prevent the APC from defeating him in the August 15 governorship election.
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Oyetola, a former Osun governor, declared that the All Progressives Congress was determined to reclaim the state from Adeleke and the Accord Party.
He made the remarks on Saturday while speaking to APC stakeholders and supporters during a campaign engagement in Osun State.
The minister's comments came amid growing tension between the APC and Adeleke's camp ahead of Saturday's election.
Adeleke has accused APC leaders and supporters of using intimidation against members of the Accord Party, including senior political figures associated with his administration.
However, Oyetola dismissed the governor's complaints as a sign that the opposition camp was becoming increasingly worried about the election.
Speaking in Yoruba, the former governor argued that Adeleke's decision to endorse Tinubu would have no bearing on the outcome of the governorship contest.
According to Oyetola, political endorsements could not determine who would occupy the Osun Government House after the election.
He insisted that the APC was prepared to take back the governorship seat, despite Adeleke's recent political alignment with the ruling party at the federal level.
“If you like, make 10 endorsements, we will collect this one from you,” Oyetola said.
The minister also took a swipe at Adeleke over what he described as the governor's frequent references to him during the election campaign.
Oyetola said he had deliberately avoided turning the contest into a personal confrontation with the governor.
He, however, warned that the situation could change if the APC decided to directly engage Adeleke politically.
“If we get interested in his case, he will feel it,” the minister said.
The exchange between the two politicians adds another layer to an election shaped by their political history.
Oyetola and Adeleke previously faced each other in the 2022 Osun governorship election, when Adeleke defeated the then incumbent governor after a closely fought contest.
Four years later, their political interests have again collided, although Oyetola is no longer the APC candidate.
The APC is fielding Bola Oyebamiji, while Adeleke is seeking another term under the Accord Party platform.
Oyebamiji's campaign has focused on returning the APC to power, while Adeleke's camp is seeking to retain control of the state.
The contest has also been accompanied by allegations of political intimidation, arrests and raids involving supporters of the rival camps.
Adeleke and his allies have repeatedly accused APC-linked actors of targeting Accord Party members and political associates ahead of the election.
The APC has rejected the accusations and maintained that its campaign is focused on winning back Osun through the ballot.
With the August 15 election approaching, both camps are intensifying their efforts to mobilise supporters across the state.
For Oyetola, the poll represents an opportunity for the APC to reverse its 2022 defeat and regain control of Osun.
For Adeleke, the election is a test of his administration's popularity and his ability to secure a second term despite the increasingly competitive political landscape.
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