Adeleke Fires Back at Critics: "We Won't Bow to Intimidation" as Osun Re-Election Campaign Kicks Off.

Governor launches bid for second term amid legal battles and political defections.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke made a defiant stand yesterday as he officially launched his re-election campaign in Osogbo, sending a clear message to his political opponents: he won't be bullied into submission.

Standing before a sea of supporters at Freedom Park, the governor dismissed what he called "forces of darkness" trying to derail his administration's progress. The venue was packed to capacity with party faithful, stakeholders, and even some surprising new faces loyalists of former APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore who officially jumped ship to join the Accord Party.

But it wasn't all celebration. Adeleke addressed the elephant in the room head on: a recent Federal High Court ruling that ordered the deregistration of several political parties, including his own Accord Party. Despite the legal setback, the governor remained bullish, assuring his supporters that the party would still appear on the ballot for both the August 15 governorship election and the 2027 general elections.

"Your votes will count, and I will be re-elected," Adeleke told the crowd. "Hold your heads high. From this assembly for democracy, the light of good governance must continue to spread to every corner of this state."

The governor didn't stop at campaign promises. He took direct aim at what he described as illegal activities by sacked APC local council chairmen, directing the Commissioner of Police to withdraw security protection from those illegally occupying council secretariats. He also called out United Bank for Africa (UBA), demanding the bank account for diverted council funds that he claims were taken by the court sacked officials.

A Major Defection:

The event's highlight came when Folorunso Bamisayemi, a former Commissioner for Education under Governor Gboyega Oyetola, led a delegation of APC defectors to the Accord Party. Bamisayemi didn't mince words about why they left: frustration over repeated electoral losses and the APC leadership's refusal to consider Omisore as a candidate.

Labour Union Takes a Stand:

In a related development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun State has ordered local government workers to lock out the sacked APC council chairmen from all secretariats. The directive came after a Federal High Court dismissed the chairmen's motion to stay judgment against them.

NULGE members across all 30 local councils and area offices have been instructed to secure administrative offices and report any attempts at forceful entry to union leadership and security agencies.