Primate Elijah Ayodele Warns Governor Not to Sleep- “Adeleke Is Already Winning”

Primate Elijah Ayodele has stirred the political atmosphere in Osun State with a fresh prediction that Governor Ademola Adeleke is already on course for victory in the 2026 governorship election, while simultaneously warning the incumbent not to become complacent. Ayodele alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC), sensing that it could lose the contest, may resort to what he described as “funny things” in an attempt to change the political equation.

The prediction comes as Osun voters head to the polls on August 15, 2026, in a closely watched contest featuring Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam among the leading contenders. Reports before voting indicated that the race remained competitive, with several battleground local government areas expected to play an important role in determining the outcome.

Ayodele Says Adeleke Has the Advantage

Ayodele has been consistent in predicting a second-term victory for Adeleke. In earlier comments, the cleric said he believed Adeleke would win irrespective of which candidate the APC presented. More recently, he repeated the prediction while warning that victory should not encourage the governor and his supporters to relax.

According to the cleric, the governor’s political advantage does not mean he should take the election for granted. Ayodele’s warning suggests that the final outcome will depend not merely on predictions or campaign momentum but on what happens at polling units, during collation and throughout the electoral process.

The warning has added another dramatic layer to an election already filled with competing claims. While Adeleke’s camp has accused political opponents of attempting to use federal influence against him, the APC has rejected such allegations. The competing narratives demonstrate how sensitive the Osun contest has become as both major camps fight to convince voters that they represent the state’s best political future.

APC Faces Tough Challenge as Oyebamiji Targets Adeleke

The APC is not approaching the election as a spectator. Its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, has been campaigning aggressively and presenting his own economic and governance agenda to voters. The party has maintained confidence in its ability to defeat Adeleke, making the contest considerably more than a one-sided race despite Ayodele’s prediction.

Political calculations have also focused on several crucial local government areas, including Osogbo, Olorunda, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife South, Odo Otin, Iwo and Ilesa East. The strength of the major candidates in these areas could prove decisive, particularly because the contest involves several politically influential figures and competing networks.

Ayodele’s allegation that the APC could attempt “funny things” should, however, be treated as a political allegation rather than an established fact. There is no basis to present the claim as proof that the APC has planned electoral wrongdoing. The responsibility for determining whether the election is free, fair and credible rests with the relevant electoral and security authorities, while voters and observers will be watching the process closely.

The stakes are high for Adeleke, who is seeking another term after defeating the APC’s Adegboyega Oyetola in the previous governorship contest. For the APC, reclaiming Osun would represent a major political victory and strengthen its position in the state ahead of Nigeria’s wider political battles. For the ADC and other opposition forces, the election is another opportunity to break the dominance of the two leading camps.

As voting gets underway, Ayodele’s prediction will inevitably become part of the political conversation. But predictions do not cast ballots, and campaign excitement does not replace the official count. What ultimately matters is the choice made by Osun voters and the results formally declared through the electoral process.

For now, Primate Ayodele has delivered both a prediction and a warning: Adeleke may be ahead, but he should not sleep. Whether that warning proves prophetic or merely political commentary will become clearer as votes are counted and the final result emerges. OGM NewsNG will continue following the Osun governorship election, including the results, reactions from the major parties and any developments that emerge during the collation process.