With the August 15 Osun State governorship election drawing closer, the political atmosphere has grown increasingly tense. Yesterday, Mr. Benjamin Adereti, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), launched a scathing verbal attack on the incumbent governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, describing him as a “religious hypocrite” with a highly questionable religious identity.
Speaking to a gathering of party loyalists and journalists during a campaign rally on Sunday, Adereti accused Governor Adeleke of playing politics with faith to deceive the electorate.
”We are dealing with an administration built on pretense,” Adereti said. “Governor Adeleke presents himself as a devout Muslim in some gatherings, transitions seamlessly into a passionate Christian in others, and traditional settings are no exception. This isn’t inclusivity; it is religious hypocrisy. The people of Osun deserve a leader with an authentic, transparent identity, not someone who weaponizes faith for political survival.”
The APC running mate argued that the Governor’s shifting religious posturing is a calculated strategy to mask his administration’s governance failures as the state prepares for the off-cycle election. He urged voters to focus on tangible leadership qualities rather than theatrical displays of piety.
At the time of filing this report, the Osun State Government and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have yet to issue an official response to Adereti’s remarks. However, a senior government aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, dismissed the allegations as “the desperate kicks of a failing opposition campaign.”
As the August 15 poll approaches, the rhetoric from both major camps is expected to intensify, with governance tracking, economic blueprints, and identity politics taking center stage in the race for the Abere Government House.
