The battle for Osun State Government House has taken a fresh turn as farmers and butchers endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term, while the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service declared support for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The rival endorsements came on Saturday, just one week before the August 15 governorship election, with both political camps seeking to demonstrate grassroots strength ahead of polling day.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed August 15 for the Osun governorship election, with 14 political parties cleared to participate. Adeleke is contesting on the Accord platform, while Oyebamiji is the APC candidate.
At an event at the Osun Government House in Osogbo, farmers’ groups described Adeleke as a “farmers’ friendly” governor and cited his administration’s agricultural interventions as reasons for their support.
The groups pointed to the purchase of tractors, completion of the farmers’ secretariat, distribution of farm inputs and the provision of cocoa, cashew and palm-oil seedlings.
Speaking for the Osun State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Moshood Adepoju said farmers had benefited from the Adeleke administration and would support his bid for another term.
“We endorse Mr Governor for re-election because he did well for Osun farmers,” Adepoju said.
He also alleged that some farmers’ leaders had been arrested over their political position, while insisting that farmers remained committed to supporting the governor.
The Osun State Chairman of the Butchers Association, Amoo Afeez, also announced his members’ support for Adeleke, saying the governor had made a positive impact across sectors.
Agriculture Commissioner Tola Faseru said the endorsement was initiated by agricultural associations to demonstrate their appreciation for the administration.
Adeleke, responding to the declaration, promised to expand support for the agricultural sector if re-elected.
“We will get more machinery and farm inputs as well as processing factories in our second term,” the governor said.
Across town, the Osun State leadership of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service endorsed Oyebamiji during the organisation’s 12th anniversary celebration in Osogbo.
The state chairman, Ahmed Nureni, said the group backed the APC candidate because of his relationship with hunters during the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, when Oyebamiji served as Commissioner for Finance.
Nureni claimed the organisation had about 14,000 members and said the wider network of members, spouses and children could translate into as many as 100,000 votes for the APC candidate.
“I have up to 14,000 members, so if we add our children and wives, we are going to have up to 100,000 votes,” he said.
The figure, however, represents the group’s political projection and does not amount to a verified tally of votes.
Oyebamiji welcomed the endorsement, saying it was evidence of growing support for his candidacy across different sections of the state.
He also appealed to voters to maintain peace before, during and after the election.
At the event, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, urged politicians to shun violence, warning that no political objective was worth the life of an Osun resident.
The competing endorsements highlight the battle for grassroots mobilisation as the election approaches. Farmers, traders and hunters maintain extensive networks across communities, making their political declarations significant campaign signals.
However, endorsements alone cannot determine the outcome of an election.
With the August 15 poll only days away, the decisive test for Adeleke, Oyebamiji and the other candidates will be whether their campaign structures can translate endorsements and mobilisation claims into actual voter turnout on election day.
