Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the escalating political violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election, warning against a repeat of the violent aftermath of the 1983 polls in the South-West.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Olorunda Local Government Area, Adeleke said the Accord Party’s endorsement of Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid should not be met with bloodshed in Osun. He questioned why supporters were being attacked despite the party’s backing for the President and urged Tinubu to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.

The governor alleged that security agencies, particularly the police, had become compromised and called on the President to direct them to focus on tackling criminals rather than political opponents.

Adeleke also accused his predecessor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of fuelling tensions in the state, urging Tinubu to rein him in. He stressed that democracy can only thrive when voters are allowed to choose their leaders without intimidation or violence.

Reiterating his appeal in a post on X, Adeleke said Osun was “bleeding” and called on the President to act as a father to the nation by preventing further bloodshed and protecting the democratic process.