The political battle for Osun State has taken another sharp turn after the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, questioned Governor Ademola Adeleke’s grip on the affairs of the state.
Sowore alleged that the governor does not exercise full control over his administration, claiming that members of the Adeleke family wield considerable influence over important decisions in the state.
The AAC candidate made the allegation on Thursday while appearing on News Central TV’s breakfast programme, where he also discussed the ongoing political contest ahead of the Osun governorship election.
Sowore said his assessment of Adeleke’s leadership had left him concerned about who was actually making key decisions within the state government.
“What I saw in Adeleke’s leadership is that the guy is not even in control of his government,” he said.
The AAC presidential candidate alleged that his information from behind the scenes suggested that members of the governor’s family had become deeply involved in the running of the state.
He specifically mentioned Adeleke’s sister and his elder brother, Adedeji Adeleke, the billionaire businessman and father of music star Davido.
“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,” Sowore alleged.
He then summed up his claim bluntly:
“So it’s a family, pretty much, running the state.”
Sowore Questions Adeleke’s Leadership
The allegation comes as Adeleke faces a crucial political test in the August 15 governorship election, with his administration seeking another term amid a fiercely contested campaign.
For Sowore, however, the issue goes beyond electoral politics.
He argued that the ability of a governor to independently make decisions is fundamental to effective governance and questioned whether Adeleke had demonstrated sufficient control over his administration.
The activist also criticised the governor’s performance during the recent Arise TV town hall involving candidates in the Osun governorship race.
Sowore said he was particularly unimpressed by Adeleke’s appearance, describing his performance as disappointing.
“I was appalled,” he said, suggesting that the governor’s showing during the televised engagement reinforced his concerns about the quality of leadership in Osun.
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Sowore’s comments add another provocative dimension to an already intense election campaign, where candidates and political parties have increasingly turned their attention to the record, competence and inner workings of the Adeleke administration.
The allegation that members of a governor’s family are effectively influencing state affairs is particularly sensitive in Nigerian politics, where questions surrounding political families, informal power structures and behind-the-scenes influence often generate intense public debate.
However, Sowore presented the claims as information he had heard or gathered and did not provide publicly verifiable evidence in the remarks cited above.
The Adeleke administration had not, as of the time of filing, publicly responded to the allegations.
With voters preparing to make their choice, the controversy raises a broader question that goes beyond personalities and political parties: when a governor occupies the office, who truly holds the power behind the scenes?