Who Controls Osun Political Streets?

By Comrade Ajanlekoko Fidipote

A frequent question in the minds of analysts locally and nationally is who controls Osun political streets. Who among the various parties has the handles of the 30 local governments and the area council?

Several perspectives are popping up. From ill-informed postulations to outright propaganda, few write ups have been published. Beyond sponsored commentaries or agenda setting, answering the question in the first paragraph involved analysis of recent events and incidents in Osun state.

Every state has its peculiarities in terms of what determines the electoral win. Certain segments and sectors of society have the tendencies to show who will win or lose based on the state political history. Any genuine analysts can easily get where the pendulum will swing by examining the body language or outrught declarations of those determining groups.

Following the recent drama about defection, accusations, and counter-accusations, Osun politics witnessed four recent events that are sufficient to manifest the trends of Osun politics. It is not about conjectures or scenario building. The reality of those happenings deepen doubt in the capacity of the opposition to dethrone the incumbent come August 2026. Let us take those issues one after the other.

The first incident was the mass rally organized to receive the governor when he returned from the United States of America. At Ajegunle and Igbonna market, technicians and market operators trooped out and blocked the governor from proceeding to the Biket secretariat of the PDP for the hosting The forced stopover at both places was unplanned but an instant manifestation of affection for the governor.

With chants of Imole and other political songs, they reassured the governor of full support for a second term. The same Ajegunle area was where certain previous leaders were stoned. The leader of the Ajegunle artisans publicly told the governor, “we are with you; our members spread across all local governments; 2026 is for Imole “

At the reception venue, the place was fully packed with people, residents, and supporters of PDP from far and near. As though it was a declaration of a guber ambition, enthusiastic residents trooped out to see and listen to the governor. The day was a demonstration of mass street credibility.

The second incident was the solidarity rally organised for the governor by public servants in Osun state. Politically, most governors who lost elections in Osun did so after losing the support of the state public servants. In the case of Governor Adeleke, the recent rally was the third since 2022 when he took over.

The workers appreciated the governor as the most pro-labour governor in Osun history. From the secretariat gate to the Bola Ige House, the workers trekked in solidarity with the governor, singing and dancing. It is on record that the workers had earlier endorsed the governor for a second term during the 2025 May Day rally. That endorsement was repeated during the recent rally, with all branches of the state labor union approving of the governor’s performance and electability for the second term.

Aside from the preceeding, Osun farmers at their state secretariat openly endorsed the governor for second term due to what they termed his incredible support for farmers in the state. Governor Adeleke was at hand to commission the secretariat of the All Farmers Association, which his administration completed after neglect under previous APC administration. The event turned into a mass endorsement rally with farmers from all over the state.

Leaders of the farmers' group reeled out so many accomplishments of the governor in the agricultural sector. They declared the governor has demonstrated direct care and support for agricultural transformation of Osun state. With several farmers' groups singing and dancing, the motion was raised, seconded and unanimously approved by the farmers, insisting that a second term for the governor will complete the ongoing positive growth and development of the agricultural sector. 

If there is anything that demonstrated the strength of the incumbent in Osun state, it is the local government crisis. Reports had noted that the intention of those behind the seizure of the fund was to turn the public against the incumbent. The responses of the critical sector of Osun people have rather widened the support base of the governor and portrayed the APC as anti-people. 

The evidence of the preceeding can be cleaned from open position taken by the Osun State Council of Obas, which unequivocally backed the state government over the crisis. This was followed by the Christian Association of Nigeria and the state’s League of Imams and Alfas. The labor unions, students, and youth bodies have all openly supported the state government with no single group supporting the APC position. 

Those who promised the president that they can win the state for the president without Governor Adeleke are now scrambling for answer. Reports in Abuja now confirmed that Adeleke truly has the hold on the people and that those making claims to Osun control are well hated by the grassroots and the urban elites. Even some among those who defected failed to get their immediate aides to even follow them to the APC. 

On the threats to rig the poll, Osun people are simply laughing it off because rigging out a very popular governor signals direct threat to democratic existence of the nation. From first to second republics, denying the people their rights to vote and be voted for has not always ended well. 

In any case, why must a group be so shameful and desperate as to think rigging is the only winning weapon? Is that democracy? What of stiff resistance from the people? And will the president allow his ancestral state to be turned into blood spilling camp?

In Osun politics today, the question of a third force is a mere fantasy as the state PDP, despite recent defections, still retains its strong hold across the state. Neither the opposition APC nor the ADC that is still struggling to find its feet can stop the incumbent from getting re-elected.