Key points

• Adeleke accused the APC of paying Osun civil servants half salaries and leaving workers unable to feed their families while in power
• The governor said the EFCC’s freeze of state accounts would only strengthen voter resolve to keep APC out of office
• Adeleke is seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform in the August 15 Osun governorship election

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on residents to vote against the All Progressives Congress in the August 15 governorship election, accusing the opposition party of deliberately weaponizing poverty against civil servants during its time in power.

Adeleke, who is seeking re-election under the Accord Party platform, made the appeal in a post on X on Thursday, urging eligible voters to protect what he described as the state’s progress under his administration.

Adeleke accuses APC of leaving workers to struggle under half salaries

The governor alleged that civil servants in Osun suffered severe hardship under APC rule, with workers forced to survive on half salaries and unable to meet basic needs.

He framed the August 15 election as a choice between consolidating recent gains and handing power back to a party he accused of deliberately impoverishing the workforce.

“We will not allow APC to take Osun back to the days when civil servants had to beg their neighbours for food,” Adeleke wrote.

“Those who once weaponised poverty by paying workers half salaries, leaving civil servants to struggle to feed their families, and denying our people access to basic necessities are desperate to return to inflict more pain.”

He added that the state must never return to what he called those dark days, and called on voters to send a clear message at the polls that Osun had chosen progress, compassion and good governance over regression.

Governor ties EFCC account freeze to broader political pressure

In a separate post, Adeleke defended his administration’s record on workers’ welfare and addressed the recent EFCC directive freezing the Osun State Government Statutory Allocation Account.

Rather than expressing alarm, he argued the move would harden voter resolve against the APC ahead of the election.

“Since I became governor, I have made the welfare of our workers and the people of Osun State a top priority,” he said.

“I am confident that the unjust freezing of state accounts will only strengthen the resolve of our people to do everything necessary to ensure Osun never returns to the era of darkness.”

The EFCC directed First Bank on August 5 to place a Post-No-Debit restriction on the state’s statutory allocation account, citing its ongoing investigation.

Adeleke has disputed the legal basis for the action and alleged it was politically motivated. The APC has not publicly responded to his welfare record claims ahead of the election.