Pelumi Olajengbesi, convener of the Imole Grassroots Mobilisation Network, has declared that Governor Ademola Adeleke faces no serious opposition ahead of the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun State, describing the governor’s re-election prospects as “a walkover.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, Olajengbesi said Adeleke’s popularity, grassroots connection, and record of performance have positioned him far ahead of any potential challenger, regardless of party affiliation. He maintained that Adeleke’s political strength transcends party lines and remains intact despite his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party.
According to Olajengbesi, an Abuja-based lawyer and aspirant for the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, Adeleke’s enduring appeal lies in his long-standing relationship with the people of Osun State, dating back to his time as a senator and now as governor.
“As far as I am concerned, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election in the August 8, 2026 governorship poll is a walkover,” Olajengbesi said. “There is no serious contender in the race who can compete favourably with Adeleke, let alone defeat the incumbent governor.”
He argued that political calculations in the state favour Adeleke and not the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that the governor had already proven his electoral strength by defeating an incumbent, former governor Gboyega Oyetola, in the 2022 election.
“If Adeleke, with the support of the people of Osun, could defeat an incumbent governor in 2022, defeating political greenhorns in 2026 will come cheaply,” he said. “Oyetola had federal might on his side and still lost. Politics is local.”
Olajengbesi noted that Adeleke’s strong grassroots base remains his greatest political asset, adding that it is the same factor that delivered victory in 2022 and would do so again in 2026. He insisted that no known aspirant, including Bola Oyebamiji of the APC or any other contender, commands the level of goodwill and popular support enjoyed by the governor.
He further attributed Adeleke’s popularity to what he described as impactful governance and transformational projects across the state. Olajengbesi highlighted the governor’s upgraded five-point agenda for the 2026 race, which includes integrated citizens and workers’ welfare; infrastructure consolidation for economic prosperity; increased agro-industrial expansion for youth empowerment; innovations in health, education and social care; and an improved business environment for job creation.
Defending the administration’s performance, Olajengbesi said Adeleke had delivered tangible results despite what he described as harassment and blockages from the Federal Government. He cited improvements in education, noting that Osun State moved from 33rd position under the previous APC-led government to 7th in national examination rankings.
He also claimed that the Adeleke administration has reduced the state’s infrastructure deficit by over 40 percent since 2022 and paid more than 40 percent of inherited debts, as confirmed by the Debt Management Office.
“Osun people are wiser,” Olajengbesi said. “They will vote for progress, impact and good governance.”