By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Ogun State indigenes and students resident in Osun State have endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term in office ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

The endorsement was made on Wednesday in Osogbo at a meeting attended by representatives of Ogun indigenes living in Osun, students of Ogun State origin studying in institutions across the state, and the Ogun State Chairman of the Accord Party, Hon. Oke Rotimi Michael.

The group urged eligible voters of Ogun State origin resident in Osun, particularly students and youths, to participate actively in the election and support Adeleke, who is contesting the poll on the platform of the Accord Party.

The group in a statement made available to Vanguard in Abeokuta, by its Coordinator, Mr Bola Adegbenro, said the administration’s record in infrastructure and social services had influenced their decision to support the governor’s re-election bid.

According to him, the impact of the administration’s programmes could be seen across several sectors, including roads, education, healthcare, water supply and grassroots development.

Adegbenro said, “even a blind man can feel the impact of the administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke ever since he assumed office.”

He cited the rehabilitation and construction of several roads, including the Osogbo-Iwo corridor, Otan Ayegbaju-Iresi road and Ede-Egbedi-Erin Osun road, as some of the projects undertaken by the administration.

He also referred to the administration’s reported rehabilitation of more than 150 kilometres of roads, upgrading of over 100 schools, refurbishment of about 200 health centres and implementation of 332 water projects across various communities.

Representing Ogun State students in Osun, the Chairman of the Federation of Ogun State Students in Osun State (FOSSOS), Comrade Lawal Taofeek Oluwaseun, commended Adeleke for what he described as efforts to improve the academic environment in the state’s tertiary institutions.

Oluwaseun specifically highlighted projects at Osun State University (UNIOSUN), including the provision of a 52-unit building, completion of previously abandoned projects, a Faculty of Computing building, a 500-seat lecture theatre and a three-in-one laboratory complex reportedly capable of accommodating 1,500 students at a time.

He also cited developments at the University of Ilesa, including the provision of a take-off grant and the commencement of infrastructure projects, among them the institution’s first students’ hostel.

In his remarks, Rotimi Michael described the projects recorded under Adeleke’s administration as only “a tip of the iceberg,” arguing that continuity in leadership would enable further development in the state.

“As Ogun State ambassadors in Osun State, I humbly urge you all to know that Senator Ademola Adeleke is the best for the topmost political position in Osun State,” he said.

The Accord chairman also urged Ogun indigenes resident in Osun, especially youths and students, to exercise their constitutional right to vote during Saturday’s election.

He pledged, on behalf of the Accord governorship candidate in Ogun State, Alhaji Agbongboakala Olaniyi Okewole, that an Accord-led administration in Ogun would prioritise students’ welfare, including a comprehensive review and improvement of the state bursary scheme for students of Ogun origin studying in tertiary institutions across the country.

He said students’ welfare should be regarded as an investment in the future of the state rather than as an act of favouritism.

Michael further appealed to the electorate to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the electoral process.

“Go out and vote. Ensure that your vote is protected through lawful and constitutional means. Do not allow anybody to threaten or deny you your freedom of choice of leaders whom you want to lead you,” he said.

The group consequently called on eligible voters of Ogun State origin resident in Osun, as well as Ogun students in the state, to turn out in large numbers on Saturday, August 15, and cast their ballots for Adeleke.

Adeleke, who is seeking a second term, is the Accord candidate for the Osun governorship election. His emergence as the party’s candidate followed his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Accord. The Osun PDP subsequently announced its support for his re-election bid on the Accord platform.