The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2027 general election, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, is not in control of the affairs of the state.
Sowore made this claim on Thursday while appearing on News Central Television’s breakfast programme, where he questioned the governor’s leadership and dismissed some of the achievements attributed to his administration.
According to the AAC candidate, the state is allegedly being controlled by members of Adeleke’s family, particularly his sister and elder brother, Adedeji Adeleke, who is the father of popular Nigerian singer, Davido.
“What I saw in Adeleke’s leadership is that the guy is not even in control of his government,” Sowore said.
“What I know behind the scenes is… I heard that Adeleke’s sister is the one running the state. And his elder brother, who is Davido’s father, also. So it’s a family, pretty much, running the state,” he alleged.
Sowore said he was “appalled” by Adeleke’s performance after watching the governor participate in an Arise Television town hall programme.
His comments come ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state, with political parties intensifying campaigns and mobilisation across the state.
The AAC candidate had earlier alleged that police officers fired tear gas at him and members of his team while they were travelling to Osogbo ahead of the election.
Sowore made the allegation in a post on his verified X account on Wednesday, claiming that the incident occurred despite what he described as a peaceful interaction with the officers.
“Despite our having a respectful and peaceful conversation with them, they secretly fired tear gas at us as we continued on our journey,” he alleged.
He said the incident did not prevent him and his supporters from reaching the state capital.
“But their intimidation failed. We pushed through, arrived in Osogbo and triumphed,” he stated.
Sowore also criticised the conduct of the police, arguing that security personnel deployed for the election should protect voters, political actors and the democratic process rather than intimidate opposition figures.
“The police should be protecting citizens and safeguarding the democratic process, not attacking peaceful political actors,” he added.
In related development, the Governorship Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has accused supporters of the Accord Party of killing the nephew of Hon. Wole Oke, identified as Dele Aiyegbo, in Esa Oke.
Oke, who represents Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, serves as the Director-General of the campaign council of the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
According to the APC campaign council, Aiyegbo was allegedly shot by suspected Accord Party members in Esa Oke, a community in Obokun Local Government Area, on Wednesday night.
The council alleged that another person was also shot during the incident but survived with severe injuries.
It argued that the development reinforced its calls for security agencies, particularly the police, to take decisive action against criminal elements allegedly linked to individuals within the state government.
However, Governor Adeleke condemned the attack and called on security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Adeleke also distanced his administration from the incident, urging the authorities to thoroughly investigate the killing and bring the perpetrators to justice.