OSUN POLL: Gov Adeleke’s Time Is Up, APC Will Win Overwhelmingly — Tinubu’s Aide, Niniola
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Protocol, Amb. Issah Adedotun Niniola, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will record a resounding victory in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, declaring that the people of the state are ready to vote out the incumbent administration.
Niniola made the assertion while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration of the APC National Campaign Council for the Osun State Off-Cycle Governorship Election on Tuesday at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, where he dismissed suggestions that the ruling party was apprehensive about the forthcoming poll.
According to the presidential aide, there was no basis for anxiety within the APC, insisting that the political mood in Osun strongly favours the their party ahead of the election.
“I wonder why you’re using the word apprehension. Why should there be apprehension? What we know is that the Osun APC is winning, and we are going to win overwhelmingly. The current trajectory is that the people in Osun are tired of the incumbent, and they’re going to vote for the APC on August 15, 2026,” he said.
Responding to claims by Governor Ademola Adeleke that the people of Osun remain firmly behind his administration, Niniola said it was expected for every candidate to project confidence but maintained that the electorate had already made up their minds.
“There wouldn’t be any apprehension. Everybody will always claim to be more popular. The governor can say anything, but he knows in his heart that his time is over, and he needs to vacate Abeere, the seat of power in Osun, come August 15,” he stated.
The presidential aide also criticised the Adeleke administration’s performance, questioning its record in infrastructure, education and healthcare.
He alleged that one of the state’s bridge projects failed to meet acceptable engineering standards, arguing that it lacked the transparency and technical compliance expected of major public infrastructure.
“What do you call performance? Is it the bridge project that is already collapsing? Have you seen any project of that magnitude done without a signpost indicating the contractors, the client, the structural engineers and the entire array of engineers involved? That is not performance,” he said.
Niniola further contended that the current administration had failed to make meaningful progress in key sectors affecting the welfare of residents.
“In education, he hasn’t accomplished anything tangible. He has not made any significant impact in the health sector. He hasn’t affected people’s lives. He only picked a few people to empower,” he alleged.
He called on the people of Osun State to turn out in large numbers on election day and vote for the APC candidate, whom he described as the most prepared to provide purposeful leadership for the state.
“My message to the people of Osun is to come out en masse and vote for the APC candidate. He’s the only candidate ready and equipped to lead Osun to the El Dorado we aspire to. We have a message of hope for the people of Osun and Nigeria,” Niniola said.
APC inaugurated its National Campaign Council in Abuja as part of efforts to coordinate its campaign strategy and mobilise support ahead of the August 15 off-cycle governorship election, widely regarded as a significant political contest ahead of the 2027 general elections.
