Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has predicted that incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke will emerge victorious and secure a second term in office.
Ayodele, however, warned that Adeleke’s victory could face challenges after the election, alleging that the All Progressives Congress may seek to overturn the outcome through post-election processes.
The cleric made the prediction while speaking on the political situation in Osun, where he urged Adeleke and his supporters to remain vigilant throughout the electoral process and beyond.
According to him, Adeleke had already been “anointed” by God to win the election, but would need to protect his mandate until the final stage of the process.
“In the Osun election, God has already anointed Ademola Adeleke to secure a second term in office.
“He will win the election, but the APC are working towards the aftermath of the win. They will attempt to steal victory from Adeleke if he isn’t careful enough.
“The governor must follow them closely and ensure he has eyes on the ground because they have already concluded their plans to go beyond the election polls to get victory by all means. Adeleke must stay with his win till the very end,” Ayodele said.
The prediction came days after Ayodele warned Adeleke against underestimating the interest of President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the election.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric alleged that Tinubu was “fully involved” in the election and wanted Adeleke removed from office.
Ayodele urged the governor to disregard claims that the President was indifferent to the outcome of the poll, insisting that Tinubu was closely monitoring developments in the state.
“Tinubu is fully involved and interested in Osun State. Adeleke shouldn’t allow anybody to deceive him that the president isn’t interested in it. He is closely monitoring the election and wants Adeleke out of power,” he said.
His comments followed the recent directive by Tinubu for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to lift restrictions placed on Osun State government accounts.
The development had generated speculation in some political circles over the President’s position on the election. Ayodele, however, dismissed the interpretation, maintaining that Adeleke should remain politically alert.
Primate Ayodele further warned that losing the election could create significant difficulties for the governor, particularly in any subsequent legal battle over the outcome.
“Adeleke must do everything he knows to ensure he stays in power because if he loses, it won’t be an easy journey for him. It will even be difficult to get anything from the court. The APC wants to perform magic, but he must not allow them,” the cleric said.
Ayodele also predicted a highly competitive contest, alleging that the APC would deploy considerable financial, political and institutional resources in its attempt to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party administration in the state.
“The APC will use money, influence, power, forces, and the presidency. It won’t be easy at all; it will be very serious,” he stated.
The Osun governorship election has intensified political activity across the state, with Adeleke seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform amid a strong challenge from the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and other contenders.
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