Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Progressive Governors Forum Chairman Hope Uzodimma led a delegation of All Progressives Congress governors into Osogbo on Thursday for a mega rally marking the final day of campaigns ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
The rally, held on the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission for political campaigns, drew Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and House of Representatives member James Faleke, who represents Ikeja Federal Constituency. Their presence underscored the party’s mobilisation effort for its candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, who emerged from the APC primary conducted in Osogbo.
Oyebamiji faces incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, along with candidates from the African Democratic Congress, the People’s Redemption Party, and other parties. The election date was adjusted from August 8 to August 15, with INEC fixing Thursday, August 13, as the final day for campaign activities.
The rally attracted party leaders, supporters, and campaign coordinators from across the state’s 30 local government areas. It unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tension. Osun State has witnessed what observers describe as unprecedented violence in recent weeks, with the Accord Party accusing the APC of deploying federal power to suppress opposition parties.
The political temperature rose further last week when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission froze the Osun State Government’s accounts days before the election. The move drew sharp criticism and prompted President Bola Tinubu to intervene, directing the anti-graft agency to immediately unfreeze the accounts.
The development added a new layer of controversy to an already charged contest. Opposition parties viewed the account freeze as politically motivated, while APC officials maintained it was a routine investigation unrelated to the electoral timeline.
Security agencies have deployed extensively across the state ahead of Saturday’s vote. The police and sister agencies have pledged neutrality, urging all parties to adhere to the electoral guidelines and maintain peace.
For the APC, Thursday’s rally served as a show of force and unity, bringing together the party’s most senior national and regional leaders in a final push to sway undecided voters. For the Accord Party and other opposition groups, the focus remains on monitoring the electoral process and challenging any irregularities through legal channels.
The outcome in Osun will be closely watched as an indicator of political alignments ahead of the 2027 general Elections. With the campaigns officially closed, attention now shifts to the credibility of the voting process and the capacity of institutions to deliver a peaceful, transparent election.
