PDP Elder Statesman Urges Tinubu To Steer Clear Of Osun 2026 Election Manipulation.
A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Senator Olu Alabi, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu against any attempts to manipulate the 2026 governorship election in Osun State to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on a radio programme in Osogbo on Monday, the elder statesman declared that Osun is not a state that can be easily controlled, contrasting it with recent events in Edo State.
“Osun is not Edo State that the President could ‘pocket’,” Alabi stated emphatically, urging Tinubu to refrain from interfering in the state’s electoral process. “Don’t do Edo formula for us here, we are entirely Osun. Tinubu should not torment us.”
Alabi, an indigene of Osogbo and a founding member of the PDP, also addressed the so-called ‘Osogbo agenda’, a movement advocating for a governor from the state capital, which has never produced an elected governor. While acknowledging the aspirations of his fellow Osogbo indigenes, he urged patience, suggesting the agenda be deferred until incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke completes a second term.
“I was the first person from Osogbo to contest for governorship in 1999, but I knew the votes I had – even the Ijesa people voted for me more than my Osogbo people,” Alabi recalled, reflecting on his own electoral experience. He stressed that the focus should remain on supporting Adeleke’s administration, which he believes is transforming the state.
Initially sceptical of Adeleke’s capabilities, the octogenarian medical doctor admitted he had not supported the governor’s 2022 bid. However, Alabi expressed admiration for Adeleke’s achievements, which he said surpassed his expectations. “I did not support Adeleke because I thought he would not perform, but his achievements have changed my mind. He will get a second term,” he declared. “Ademola Adeleke is here to reform Osun, not to destroy it.”
Highlighting the governor’s impact, Alabi remarked, “You will think you are in New York when you see Osogbo at night,” crediting Adeleke with significant improvements in the state capital’s infrastructure and aesthetics.
Alabi’s comments come amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2026 election, with the PDP elder calling for unity and fairness in the electoral process. He warned that any attempt to rig the polls would face strong resistance from the people of Osun, reinforcing the state’s reputation for political independence.
As the countdown to the governorship election begins, Alabi’s remarks underscore the determination of Osun’s political stakeholders to safeguard the democratic process and ensure the will of the people prevails.
