Adeleke Is Not Different From Tinubu’: Activist Criticises Osun Governor, Rejects ‘Imole’ Slogan
‘Adeleke Is Not Different From Tinubu’: Activist Criticises Osun Governor, Rejects ‘Imole’ Slogan
“There is no Imole (Light) in Osun. This is the bitter truth and it must be said to the people of Osun, now that the election is over,” Oni said.
Human rights activist Comrade Ayoyinka Oni has criticised Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and President Bola Tinubu following Saturday’s governorship election, alleging that both belong to the same political establishment despite their occasional disagreements.
Oni, in a statement issued after the election, said Adeleke’s administration had failed to live up to its “Imole” slogan, which means light in Yoruba, and accused the government of secrecy and alleged financial irregularities.
“There is no Imole (Light) in Osun. This is the bitter truth and it must be said to the people of Osun, now that the election is over,” Oni said.
He alleged that the Adeleke administration had been plagued by “hidden transfers to private accounts,” which he said had led to investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Where there is light, nothing is hidden and there are no shady deals,” he said.
Oni also criticised Adeleke for his political relationship with Tinubu, arguing that the Osun governor had supported the President before the election despite opposition figures and supporters campaigning against the Federal Government.
“Ademola Adeleke is not different from Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they are licking the same soup,” he said, alleging that politicians often turn against one another when competing for political interests but reconcile after the immediate contest.
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He urged Nigerians to stop taking sides in political disputes involving members of the ruling class and instead focus on holding political leaders accountable.
“You are the one that should wake up and stop caring so much about the oppressive ruling class, care about yourself and your country and organise yourselves to take over the country,” Oni said.
The activist also criticised musician David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, over his involvement in the political dispute surrounding the election, alleging that his political positions were largely influenced by his family interests.
According to Oni, the Osun election also exposed the extent of vote-buying, electoral irregularities and the use of state and federal resources during elections.
He alleged that more than N100 billion was spent by the major political parties to influence voters, while accusing the EFCC of failing to prevent alleged financial inducement during the election.
Oni also listed what he described as failed attempts to influence the outcome of the election, including the deployment of federal political figures and security personnel.
He argued that the election demonstrated that political power could be defeated when citizens collectively resist intimidation.
“This shows us that there is no federal might that can defeat 200 million people if they agree on what is right for them,” Oni said.
However, he warned Nigerians against simply replacing one political establishment with another ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“APC can be gone in all states and at the Federal level come 2027, but the real issue is to make sure we don’t replace them with another corrupt ruling class like it was done in Osun,” he said.
Oni also raised concerns about voter turnout, citing figures which he said showed that more than 900,000 registered voters did not participate in the election.
He argued that the large number of non-voters could have significantly altered the outcome had they participated.
“Over 900k people didn’t vote. We need to ask ourselves, why,” he said, urging voters to participate in the 2027 elections.
The activist further cited figures from an election monitoring organisation which he said observed more than 700 polling units and recorded 323 electoral offences, including 103 cases of alleged vote-buying and 12 cases of multiple voting.
He argued that electoral malpractice could only be effectively tackled through greater participation and vigilance by citizens.
“Irregularities, rigging and vote buying can never happen if INEC and the police don’t endorse it,” Oni alleged.
He also criticised Tinubu’s congratulatory message to Adeleke following the election, accusing the President of attempting to take control of Osun State through political pressure.
“Democracy does not exist in Nigeria, it is Nigerians that are fighting hard to ensure it lives,” he said.
Oni concluded by rejecting the Adeleke administration’s “Imole” slogan, saying the state was still experiencing what he described as darkness.
“Once again, there is no #Imole in Osun. What we have is an Adeleke Family enjoying the wealth and resources of the state to expand their empire and use the people as a pawn in their game,” he said.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) earlier urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to jointly investigate reported cases of vote-buying, financial inducement, illegal election financing, voter intimidation, violence and other electoral offences during the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
According to SERAP, preliminary reports by the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH) recorded 323 electoral offences and irregularities across 726 polling units observed as of noon on election day.
The reported infractions included 103 cases of vote trading, 28 cases of inducement of polling and security officials, 31 cases of voter obstruction, 38 cases of campaigning at polling units, 14 cases of voter impersonation, 12 cases of multiple voting, seven cases of election-official misconduct and 85 cases involving exposure of ballot papers.
