A former Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Sunday Akere, has sparked debate by suggesting that Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, would defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State if chosen as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in 2026.
Akere cited Oyetola’s past achievements as governor, including payment of bursaries to 3,100 students and non-interference in tertiary institution leadership choices, as factors that would give him an edge, according to the PUNCH.
However, the Osun PDP Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele Bamiji, dismissed Akere’s claims, stating that Governor Ademola Adeleke and the PDP would decisively defeat any APC candidate in 2026. Bamiji argued that the people of Osun are satisfied with Adeleke’s performance and would not return to the APC’s failures of past years.
Bamiji also countered Akere’s comparison of the current administration’s allocation and project quality, highlighting the increased pump price and Adeleke’s achievements despite receiving no extraordinary allocation.
The debate highlights the intensifying rivalry between the APC and PDP in Osun State ahead of the 2026 governorship election. As the election approaches, both parties are confident in their chances. The APC sees Oyetola’s potential candidacy as a strong advantage, while the PDP banks on Governor Adeleke’s performance and popularity.
The outcome of the 2026 Osun State governorship election remains uncertain, with only time telling who will emerge victorious.
Akere said, “If Oyetola is fielded in 2026, he will beat the PDP hands down. Oyetola was never an enemy of civil servants. For the 48 months of his rule, there was no civil protest from any student.
“Oyetola paid a bursary to 3,100 students, and he never made a fuss about it, unlike someone who is spending N100 million now when they have taken N300 billion in revenue since they came to government about 23 months ago.
“What they have taken in 23 months is what Oyetola got for the entire 48 months of his reign, and there was never a single protest.
“Oyetola never interfered in the leadership choices of any tertiary institution in Osun. He never said those who were qualified should be denied for one reason or another. He would never encourage any illegality.”
Reacting, the Director of Media and Publicity in the Osun PDP, Oladele Bamiji, stated that his party would defeat whoever is presented by the APC in the 2026 poll, as the people of Osun still believe in the capacity of the current ruling party in the state to deliver good governance.
Bamiji said, “Whoever they bring in 2026, Governor Ademola Adeleke and the PDP will defeat that person thoroughly. We are not bragging. The people of Osun will not go back to the failures of past years. Governor Adeleke is delivering on the mandate given to him, and the people are happy with him. So, let them bring Oyetola or any other person; Governor Adeleke and the PDP will record a massive victory.
“Mr Akere also spoke about receiving a bigger allocation now. Why is he not considering the value of the allocation when the pump price was less than N200, and now that the APC government has raised the pump price to a level most people can no longer afford?
“Also, is he an engineer, or has he conducted research on our projects to determine their quality? It is obvious they are still bitter that Governor Adeleke ended their reign. Osun is not receiving an extraordinary allocation at present, yet Adeleke has performed beyond expectations. Our projects are of the best quality; there is no contest about that.”
