Chairman of Media and Publicity for the Adeleke Campaign Organisation and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Honourable Bamidele Salam, has reaffirmed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s commitment to ensuring peaceful, free and credible elections in Osun State.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Friday, Salam said Governor Adeleke remained committed to maintaining peace before, during and after the forthcoming governorship election, describing his attendance at the National Peace Committee’s peace accord signing in Osogbo as evidence of that commitment.
According to him, despite a busy official schedule, Governor Adeleke personally attended the peace accord ceremony alongside his deputy, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, members of the National Assembly and other senior government officials.
Salam said the governor signed the peace accord without hesitation, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to peaceful democratic processes.
Salam, however, criticised the absence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, from the peace accord signing.
He alleged that Oyebamiji neither attended the event nor sent a representative before the signing ceremony was concluded, noting that the APC candidate’s running mate reportedly arrived after the formal signing and official photographs had been completed.
According to Salam, Governor Adeleke’s participation demonstrated statesmanship and respect for the peace process.
“That doesn’t take away from the fact that our governor and our party are committed to the tenets of the peace accord. The governor has said that, in spite of all that has happened, he remains a man of peace and is committed to peaceful conduct of the election,” he said.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant institutions to ensure the election is not only peaceful but also credible.
Salam expressed confidence that political tensions in the state would not discourage voter participation.
He said residents across Osun State had become even more determined to exercise their democratic rights despite what he described as harassment and intimidation of members of his party.
According to him, civil servants, pensioners, farmers, teachers and other eligible voters remain committed to participating in the election and ensuring that their votes count.
He urged security agencies, including the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the military, to provide adequate protection for law-abiding citizens on election day.
Responding to questions regarding allegations involving the Osun State Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Salam dismissed suggestions of wrongdoing.
He argued that the reported recovery of ₦4.8 million, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and a copy of the voters’ register did not constitute evidence of any criminal offence.
According to him, possessing cash is not illegal, while the PVCs allegedly belonged to party canvassers attending a lawful political meeting.
He further explained that political parties legitimately receive copies of the voters’ register from INEC for voter mobilisation and sensitisation.
“There is nothing unlawful about having a voters’ register in your possession because INEC officially provides it to political parties for electioneering purposes,” he maintained.
Salam also rejected allegations of vote buying, insisting that the Adeleke campaign had no need to induce voters because of what he described as Governor Adeleke’s performance in office.
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He urged security agencies to arrest anyone found engaging in vote buying regardless of political affiliation and called on all participating political parties to comply with electoral regulations.
“We as a party are against vote buying. We don’t even need to buy votes because the governor has performed credibly and justified the mandate given to him by the people,” Salam said.
He expressed confidence that the governor would secure victory at the polls while reiterating the party’s commitment to a peaceful electoral process.
The comments reflect the position of the Adeleke Campaign Organisation. Other political parties and relevant authorities have presented their own views on issues surrounding the forthcoming Osun governorship election.