By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The All Progressives Congress (APC) held a mega rally in Osun State, where party supporters and residents criticised the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke over alleged shortcomings in infrastructure, employment and workers’ welfare, while calling for a change of government at Saturday’s governorship election.
The rally, held on Thursday, 13 August, 2026, attracted leading members and supporters of the APC as the parties intensified their campaigns and mobilisation efforts across the state ahead of the August 15 poll.
Speaking on the sidelines of the rally, Ademola Adejire, Chief Executive Officer of Upliftment Against Hunger Initiative in Nigeria, said the Federal Government had made efforts to stabilise the country, particularly in the area of security, but noted that the impact of government policies was not being felt equally by the people.
Adejire said his organisation had empowered more than 18,000 people across Osun State through programmes supported by the APC and the Federal Government, particularly to address hunger and improve the welfare of vulnerable residents.
He, however, said his interaction with people across the state had shown that many ordinary residents were still struggling with hunger and economic hardship, even as he acknowledged that some members of the elite appeared to have benefited from government policies.
According to him, the empowerment programmes carried out through his NGO had received positive responses from beneficiaries, with plans to extend the initiative to more than 15,000 additional members.
He said the programmes would continue after the election, adding that the organisation would remain focused on responding to the needs of residents.
Another speaker, Omri Afolabi Abayomi, a retiree and unionist, took a stronger position against the Adeleke administration, alleging that the government had failed to translate increased revenue into sufficient development across the state.
Abayomi, who identified himself as a former secretary of state for Abia, Kwara, Kogi and Lagos of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, Mr Iyo Afolabi claimed that Osun had received more than N500 billion in four years, compared with about N360 billion he attributed to the previous APC administrations over 12 years.
He questioned the level of development achieved with the funds, citing infrastructure projects, the proposed relocation of the airport and the administration of the State Executive Council.
Abayomi also questioned the proposed relocation of the airport from Ido-Osun to Ede, alleging that the project would cost more than N30 billion and calling for greater transparency in the process.
He further alleged that the state government had become dominated by family interests and criticised what he described as the lack of regular State Executive Council meetings and adequate public information on government decisions.
On the election, Abayomi expressed confidence in his preferred candidate, whom he referred to as “Ambo”, claiming that the candidate had visited all 30 local government areas three times to engage residents and identify their needs.
He said the candidate was leading in 24 local government areas, while the remaining six were closely contested.
According to him, the campaign had focused on issues including the economy, transportation, education and healthcare, rather than merely making promises to voters.
Also speaking, Mrs Akinbote, Adenike a caterer, farmer and politician from Ido-Osun in Egbedore Local Government Area, centred her criticism on the proposed airport relocation.
Akinbote said the airport was an important asset to Ido-Osun and alleged that residents had resisted the plan to move it to Ede, which she described as the governor’s home town.
She said the controversy had strengthened opposition to the Adeleke administration in Ido-Osun and parts of Egbedore, adding that residents were prepared to vote for the APC candidate on Saturday.
Akinbote also faulted the state government over employment and workers’ welfare, arguing that Osun depended heavily on civil servants because of its limited number of factories and private companies.
She alleged that the administration had failed to employ enough workers and recalled that about 1,500 teachers were employed under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
She further alleged that some of those workers were later removed and replaced, adding that workers at Osun State Polytechnic had also faced difficulties receiving their payments.
Akinbote, who worked at the institution for about seven to eight years as a school farm manager, said she eventually resigned voluntarily after alleged delays and accumulated unpaid entitlements affecting contract workers.
