I don’t need vote buying to win Osun poll- Adeleke

Osun State Governor and Accord Party candidate in Saturday’s governorship election, Ademola Adeleke, has expressed confidence that his governance record will secure his re-election.

Adeleke spoke during the Arise Townhall Meeting and in a series of posts shared on his verified X handle on Tuesday, where he addressed issues including vote buying, the state’s finances, his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and his widely recognised dancing persona.

On allegations of election inducement, Adeleke said his administration lacked the financial capacity to engage in vote buying, noting that the state had been operating under financial pressure after federal allocations to local governments were withheld.

“As an administration, we do not have the resources to engage in vote buying. We have been using state resources to pay local government workers since our local government allocation was withheld almost two years ago,” he wrote.

The governor, however, said he remained confident in the electorate and believed his achievements would speak for him at the polls.

“I do not need to buy votes to win election. I have been giving workers palliative since 2023. I believe in my work to speak for me,” he said.

Why Adeleke left PDP

Adeleke also explained his decision to leave the PDP and contest the election under the Accord Party.

He described his departure from the PDP as a difficult decision but said internal crisis within the party made the move necessary.

“I left the PDP to join Accord because of the crisis in the PDP then. I love PDP so much, and it was difficult to leave. I would have run as an independent candidate in this election if it were allowed in Nigeria,” he explained.

The governor is seeking another term in office amid a competitive contest involving candidates from several political parties.

‘Dancing does not stop me from working’

Adeleke also defended his penchant for dancing, which has become a defining feature of his public appearances.

Responding to critics who argue that his dancing could distract from governance, the governor said his lively personality was part of his family tradition and had no impact on his responsibilities as governor.

“I dance because in my family, we are jolly good fellows. As I am dancing, I am working. There is time for everything; there is time to dance, and there is time to work. Dancing does not stop me from working. I have delivered across all sectors,” he wrote.

The governor had earlier addressed the issue during the town hall meeting, where he dismissed concerns about the influence of the Federal Government and governors supporting the All Progressives Congress candidate.

Adeleke described himself as a “bulldozer”, insisting that the presence of APC governors would not determine the outcome of the election.

He maintained that the people of Osun State would ultimately decide the winner based on the candidates’ records and performance.

With the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, Adeleke is relying on his administration’s record and his appeal among voters as he seeks to retain his position for another term.