…Says Accord Party can’t win a Ward in Ijesa North
The Director-General of the Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council, Hon. Oluwole Oke, has expressed strong confidence in the party’s chances ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election, insisting that Osun voters are ready to vote out Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.
Oke made the assertion on Tuesday during an interactive session with members of the Osun Online Publishers Association (OOPA). The lawmaker representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives said the APC had already commenced an issue-driven campaign focused on presenting alternatives and convincing residents that the state deserves more effective governance.
Commenting on the political landscape in Ijesa North Federal Constituency, which comprises Obokun and Oriade local government areas, Oke dismissed the electoral prospects of the Accord Party, maintaining that the APC remains the dominant political force in the area.
“Accord will not win a single ward in Obokun or Oriade. Take it to the bank,” he declared confidently.
According to him, victory in the forthcoming election will depend largely on strategy, grassroots mobilisation, and the ability of political parties to connect with the aspirations and concerns of ordinary citizens. He argued that the APC’s campaign would focus on highlighting what he described as the shortcomings of the current administration while offering practical solutions to the state’s challenges.
“It is about strategy, engagement, and telling the people of Osun that they deserve better. It is about convincing them that the incumbent government has not been fair to them. They have failed and squandered the people’s resources,” Oke said.
The APC campaign chief criticised the Adeleke administration’s performance in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and water supply. He alleged that confidence in public institutions, particularly schools, has declined significantly under the current government.
He claimed that many parents, especially in rural communities, no longer trust public schools and increasingly prefer private alternatives despite the financial burden involved.
Oke also expressed concern over access to potable water across several communities, alleging that many residents still depend on streams and other unsafe sources for their daily water needs. He promised that an APC government would prioritise the rehabilitation of dams and water facilities to improve access to clean drinking water.
“There is no water supply. People resort to streams contaminated with disease-causing organisms for their drinking water. We will put an end to that. We will develop surface water resources, improve our dams, refurbish them, and reset our water infrastructure to provide people with quality, potable drinking water,” he stated.
The federal lawmaker further argued that many residents are effectively forced to provide essential services for themselves despite paying taxes. According to him, citizens now generate their own electricity, source their own water, patronise private hospitals, and send their children to private schools because of perceived deficiencies in public service delivery.
On infrastructure development, Oke questioned the quality of some road projects executed by the current administration. He specifically cited the Ota-Ile–Ilare–Esa-Odo road, alleging that sections of the road are frequently washed away during heavy rainfall due to poor construction standards.
“Talking about roads, many of the roads they have constructed are poorly executed. Take, for instance, the Ota-Ile–Ilare–Esa-Odo road; whenever it rains, parts of it are washed away. In terms of service delivery and value addition, I score this government zero,” he said.
Oke also criticised Governor Adeleke’s leadership style and administrative approach, alleging that the government has struggled with policy implementation and effective governance. He claimed that the administration’s handling of education and healthcare has created uncertainty within both sectors.
Expressing optimism about the APC’s prospects, Oke recalled his involvement in previous political campaigns that resulted in the defeat of incumbent governors in Osun State. He predicted that Governor Adeleke would become the third sitting governor to be unseated through the ballot box.
“We are very good at removing sitting governors. I have participated in unseating two governors in this state, and the third will be in the August 15 governorship election,” he said.
The APC campaign director further claimed that Governor Adeleke is already aware of the political challenges ahead, suggesting that the governor understands the difficult task facing his administration as the election approaches.
He concluded by assuring party supporters that the APC would continue to focus on issues affecting the welfare and development of Osun residents, insisting that the August 15 governorship election would provide voters with an opportunity to determine the future direction of the state.
