Osun 2026: Adeleke, APC Trade Words Over Infrastructure As Campaign Enters Critical Phase

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

As political campaigns intensify ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, infrastructure development has emerged as one of the major battlegrounds between Governor Ademola Adeleke and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the latest exchange, the governor defended his administration’s record on road construction and other capital projects, while the APC Campaign Council questioned the quality of some of the projects, particularly the recently commissioned Iwo township road.

The competing narratives reflect the growing significance of infrastructure as a campaign issue, with both camps seeking to convince voters of their competence in delivering development across the state.

Governor Adeleke, through a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, described the APC as being in “acute political depression,” claiming the opposition had failed in its attempts to frustrate his administration’s developmental agenda.

The governor said his ongoing statewide commissioning tour had received overwhelming support from residents, citing projects executed in Osogbo, Iwo, Ila, Ilesa, Ile-Ife and other communities as evidence of his administration’s commitment to development.

According to him, the projects were executed in line with due process, best engineering standards and the administration’s local content policy, which encouraged the use of indigenous engineers, suppliers and technicians.

Adeleke further alleged that the opposition had attempted to frustrate his administration by withholding local government funds, but maintained that the government successfully completed the projects despite the challenges.

He also used the opportunity to appreciate residents of the local government areas visited during the commissioning tour for what he described as their massive support, while urging eligible voters to safeguard their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and resist any attempt to compromise the electoral process.

The governor expressed confidence that the forthcoming election would be determined by the votes of the people.

However, the APC Campaign Council dismissed the governor’s claims, insisting that the commissioning of the Iwo township road raised serious concerns about the quality of infrastructure being delivered by the administration.

In a statement signed by the Head of its Media and Publicity Committee, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, the council alleged that the project had shown signs of deterioration even before its official commissioning.

The opposition further claimed that the contract was awarded to a company it described as lacking the requisite civil engineering expertise, arguing that the development raised questions about the procurement process and the quality of execution.

According to the APC, the condition of the road before its commissioning suggested that the project was hurriedly prepared for public presentation rather than built to provide long-term value for residents.

The council argued that Iwo deserved durable infrastructure capable of supporting economic activities and withstanding heavy traffic, rather than what it described as cosmetic rehabilitation.

The APC also revisited the reconstruction of the Osogbo-Iwo road, maintaining that the project had been initiated during the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola before it was eventually taken over by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.

The opposition contended that the federal intervention would deliver a more durable concrete road linking Osun and Oyo states, describing it as a strategic infrastructure project with greater economic significance.

The exchange underscores how infrastructure has become one of the defining issues in the Osun governorship campaign.

While the Adeleke administration is presenting completed projects as evidence of its performance in office, the APC is attempting to shift public attention to questions surrounding project quality, procurement and long-term value.

Political observers believe the debate is likely to dominate campaign conversations in the weeks leading to the election, especially as both major contenders seek to persuade voters through contrasting records and competing visions for the state’s development.

Beyond the political rhetoric, many residents are expected to judge both parties not only by the number of projects executed but also by their durability, transparency and impact on their daily lives.

With less than a month to the governorship poll, infrastructure development is shaping up to be one of the key issues that could influence voter decisions across Osun State.