Dr Deji Adeleke, elder brother of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, said in Osogbo on Sunday night, 16 August 2026, that he had remained confident his brother would secure a second term despite the political forces ranged against him.
Speaking at the governor’s victory celebration, Deji Adeleke attributed his confidence to his private prayer routine and his faith in God, saying he had never doubted the eventual outcome of the election.
Also read: Olowu of Kuta congratulates Adeleke, urges inclusive governance in second term
“I had no doubt in my mind that Ademola will win. Ademola will overcome,” Deji Adeleke said in a video shared on X by user @OluwasayoElijiah.
The remarks came after Ademola Adeleke was declared the winner of the Osun governorship election, extending his tenure in office after a closely watched contest against the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The result followed a campaign in which the governor faced considerable political pressure, including the challenge of defending his record as an incumbent and contesting under the Accord Party rather than the Peoples Democratic Party platform on which he won in 2022.
The Osun State Government had spent months portraying the contest as a choice between continuity and a return to the APC, while the opposition camp sought to capitalise on national political structures and dissatisfaction with the administration.
Before the poll, Adeleke repeatedly expressed confidence in his chances. In June, he said his campaign would remain focused and declared that, by God’s grace and with the people’s support, continuity would prevail.
The governor’s re-election campaign also faced warnings about possible attempts to influence the vote.
In July, Adeleke urged residents not to surrender their voter cards and accused political opponents of attempting to compromise the electoral process, allegations that formed part of the tense atmosphere surrounding the election.
Deji Adeleke, however, said his confidence was not based on political calculations alone.
“I fortify myself with the power of the Almighty God every day,” he said, explaining that he regularly prayed for his brother’s protection and victory.
He said his prayers were conducted privately and that he did not discuss them with other people.
“Nobody knew. I don’t discuss with anybody,” he added.
His comments reflected the deeply personal dimension of the Adeleke family’s political journey, with Deji Adeleke having remained an important figure within the wider family network.
In March, Ademola Adeleke celebrated his elder brother’s 69th birthday, describing Deji Adeleke as a “rare gift from God” and a source of strength and guidance to the family.
The governor also praised his brother’s philanthropic work and described him as a dependable source of counsel.
The family’s political influence has also been a recurring feature of Ademola Adeleke’s career.
The governor’s late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, was Osun’s first elected governor and represented Osun West in the Senate.
Deji Adeleke’s victory-night comments nevertheless went beyond family pride, taking direct aim at the political forces he believed had been arrayed against his younger brother.
“Let them come with all the battalions, withdraw the Army, bring all the money from the Central Bank. Nobody is above God Almighty,” he said.
Deji Adeleke further suggested that his brother had faced opponents who believed their proximity to the presidency gave them an advantage.
“He comes with his wickedness. He comes with the power that he thinks he has because he’s connected to the Presidency. But Ademola comes against them in the power of the Almighty God,” he said.
The comments should be understood in the context of a campaign that repeatedly featured arguments over the influence of national political figures.
Adeleke’s campaign had earlier rejected suggestions that APC political heavyweights would determine the result, insisting that Osun voters, rather than national political machinery, would ultimately decide the election.
For Deji Adeleke, the result provided what he regarded as a powerful confirmation of the faith he had maintained throughout the campaign.
“He dances and praises your name. So, Lord Almighty, God, the owner of the universe, show up for him,” he said, recalling the prayers he offered for the governor.
He ended with a declaration that captured the confidence he said he had maintained throughout the contest: “Ademola will defeat them.”
The victory now places Ademola Adeleke in a stronger position to consolidate his administration’s policies and projects as he prepares for another term.
For his elder brother, however, the political victory carries a more personal meaning.
Also read: Olowu of Kuta congratulates Adeleke, urges inclusive governance in second term
It represents the outcome of a campaign watched closely by a family with a long history in Osun politics and, in Deji Adeleke’s telling, an answer to months of private prayer.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
