Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in Osun State, expressed confidence in retaining his seat in the August 15 governorship election despite facing an opposition party backed by 34 governors, describing himself as a “bulldozer” who is not intimidated by the strength of his rivals.
The Adeleke 34-governor bloc confrontation comes just four days before Osun voters head to the polls in an election that has drawn significant attention because of the competing political alliances surrounding the major candidates.
Also read: Enugu Air reschedules flights amid Abuja Airport crisis
Adeleke said the number of governors supporting his opponents would not determine the outcome because only registered voters in Osun State would cast ballots on Saturday.
“I am not worried that I am contesting against a party that has 34 governors, I am a bulldozer,” Adeleke said in a statement shared on his official social media platform.
The governor added that the governors campaigning for the opposition could offer political support but would not personally vote in Osun.
“If they like they should bring all their governors, they are all my friends. They are not the ones to come and vote here, they can only support their party,” he said.
The comments underline Adeleke’s strategy of presenting the election as a contest between his administration and Osun voters rather than a referendum on the size of the political machinery behind his opponents.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has listed Adeleke as the Accord Party candidate for the August 15 election.
At 65, the incumbent is seeking another term after winning the 2022 governorship contest under the Peoples Democratic Party. His running mate is Kola Adegboyega Adenusi.
The election has six cleared candidates, according to INEC’s final list. Among the prominent challengers is Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress, while the All Progressives Congress is also mounting a major challenge to Adeleke’s bid.
The political contest has become increasingly intense in the final days of campaigning.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar arrived in Osun on Tuesday to support Salaam at the ADC campaign finale, underscoring the growing involvement of prominent opposition figures in the race.
The campaign environment has also been marked by heightened political tension.
Recent reporting has documented attacks, killings and competing allegations involving political actors ahead of Saturday’s vote, prompting concerns about the atmosphere surrounding the election.
Adeleke has sought to counter that tension by repeatedly projecting confidence in his re-election prospects.
In June, the governor said he expected to win convincingly and urged voters to disregard what he described as scaremongering around the election.
“We shall win convincingly and we shall be declared winner with wide margins,” Adeleke said at the time.
His campaign has also focused on his administration’s record in infrastructure, youth and women’s empowerment, health, education, agriculture and the business environment.
The Osun State Government has described the governor’s re-election agenda as an upgraded five-point programme centred on welfare, infrastructure, agro-industrial development, healthcare and education, and job creation.
Adeleke has received endorsements from several groups during the campaign.
In April, traditional security outfits and ethnic groups in Osun publicly backed his re-election bid, with supporters citing his administration’s performance as a reason for their decision.
The governor’s relationship with President Bola Tinubu has also featured in his latest remarks.
Adeleke thanked Tinubu for intervening during the recent freezing of the Osun State Government’s account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and said the President had assured him of a free and fair election.
“I appreciate Mr. President’s call during the recent EFCC freeze order on the state government’s account,” Adeleke said.
“I was promised a free and fair election by President Tinubu,” he added.
The statement comes against a broader political backdrop in which opposition forces have been attempting to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For Adeleke, however, the immediate test is much closer.
The August 15 contest will determine whether the incumbent can convert his confidence, campaign record and local support into another electoral victory.
The Adeleke 34-governor bloc battle is therefore less about the numerical strength of political allies and more about whether the incumbent can persuade enough Osun voters to give him another four years.
Also read: Enugu Air reschedules flights amid Abuja Airport crisis
With campaigning now entering its final stretch, the outcome will offer a significant measure of Adeleke’s political standing in Osun and the effectiveness of the competing alliances assembled against him.
