Beyond Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, the outcome has opened another chapter in the state’s increasingly intriguing political battles.
One of the biggest of such battles is the emerging political face-off between Hon. Wole Oke, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council, and Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesman of the Imole Campaign Council and Accord Party candidate for the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in the 2027 House of Representatives election.
For now, Olajengbesi appears to have scored the first point.
It is 1-0 in what could become one of the most closely watched political contests in Ijesa North ahead of the 2027 general election, after Accord secured the overall governorship result in the state.
For now, Olajengbesi appears to have scored the first point.
It is 1-0 in what could become one of the most closely watched political contests in Ijesa North ahead of the 2027 general election, after Accord secured the overall governorship result in the state.
Although APC won Obokun Local Government and the polling unit of its Campaign Director-General, Wole Oke, Accord carried Oriade, where Olajengbesi’s polling unit is located, and ultimately emerged the overall winner of the poll.
The result has therefore provided Olajengbesi with an important political talking point as he prepares for his direct battle with Oke for the federal constituency seat.
It is particularly significant because Oke had gone into the governorship election with enormous political responsibility.
As Oyebamiji’s campaign DG, he was expected to demonstrate the strength of the APC structure in his constituency and help deliver the area to the party’s governorship candidate.
Instead, the result has produced a split verdict that favours Accord in the end and gives Olajengbesi fresh political ammunition.
Rivalry between the two politicians did not begin with Saturday’s election.
Olajengbesi has for months challenged Oke’s political dominance in Obokun/Oriade, particularly his 24-year stay in the House of Representatives.
Instead, the result has produced a split verdict that favours Accord in the end and gives Olajengbesi fresh political ammunition.
Rivalry between the two politicians did not begin with Saturday’s election.
Olajengbesi has for months challenged Oke’s political dominance in Obokun/Oriade, particularly his 24-year stay in the House of Representatives.
After securing Accord’s ticket for the 2027 federal constituency election in May, Olajengbesi openly vowed to end Oke’s long tenure and usher in what he described as a new era of youth representation.
Their confrontation also moved beyond rhetoric. In February, Olajengbesi accused Oke of involvement in an alleged ₦500 million constituency project controversy involving inner roads and solar streetlights in Ikeji-Arakeji. Oke and Olajengbesi subsequently clashed publicly over the allegations.
Olajengbesi later criticised Oke’s appointment as APC campaign DG, arguing that the party had made a political mistake by putting him in charge of the campaign.
He claimed Oke lacked electoral value and predicted that the APC’s defeat would become easier.
Oke, on his part, projected confidence in the APC’s chances. At one point, he declared that Accord would not win any ward in the Ijesa North Federal Constituency, comprising Obokun and Oriade.
That prediction has now become one of the more striking talking points from the election.
Political contests are ultimately judged at the ballot box.
In this case, the result gives Olajengbesi something tangible to build on. Accord’s victory in Obokun and the state means the young lawyer can enter the 2027 race arguing that his political structure has already demonstrated its capacity to challenge the established APC machinery.
That argument is strengthened by the history of the constituency.
Oke has represented Obokun/Oriade since 2003 and has built one of the longest political careers in the current House of Representatives.
Oke, on his part, projected confidence in the APC’s chances. At one point, he declared that Accord would not win any ward in the Ijesa North Federal Constituency, comprising Obokun and Oriade.
That prediction has now become one of the more striking talking points from the election.
Political contests are ultimately judged at the ballot box.
In this case, the result gives Olajengbesi something tangible to build on. Accord’s victory in Obokun and the state means the young lawyer can enter the 2027 race arguing that his political structure has already demonstrated its capacity to challenge the established APC machinery.
That argument is strengthened by the history of the constituency.
Oke has represented Obokun/Oriade since 2003 and has built one of the longest political careers in the current House of Representatives.
His attempt to secure another term under the APC became controversial earlier this year after reports emerged that the party’s screening committee had disqualified him over zoning considerations before the party eventually returned him to the ticket.
Olajengbesi’s emergence has therefore turned the 2027 contest into more than an ordinary battle for a House of Representatives seat.
It is increasingly shaping up as a referendum on whether Oke’s political era in the constituency should continue or whether a new generation should take over.
Ahead of the governorship election, Olajengbesi had aggressively built his profile in the constituency.
In June, Governor Adeleke launched a 10,000-member Imole Canvassers’ group in Ijebujesa, an initiative organised by Olajengbesi to mobilise support across Obokun/Oriade and the wider Osun East axis.
Traditional rulers in Ijesa North also endorsed his 2027 ambition in July, with the Ijesa North Traditional Rulers’ Council expressing confidence in his ability to represent the constituency.
Earlier, political movements around Esa Oke had also provided evidence of shifting loyalties, with some APC and SDP figures defecting to Accord and declaring support for Adeleke.
Olajengbesi’s emergence has therefore turned the 2027 contest into more than an ordinary battle for a House of Representatives seat.
It is increasingly shaping up as a referendum on whether Oke’s political era in the constituency should continue or whether a new generation should take over.
Ahead of the governorship election, Olajengbesi had aggressively built his profile in the constituency.
In June, Governor Adeleke launched a 10,000-member Imole Canvassers’ group in Ijebujesa, an initiative organised by Olajengbesi to mobilise support across Obokun/Oriade and the wider Osun East axis.
Traditional rulers in Ijesa North also endorsed his 2027 ambition in July, with the Ijesa North Traditional Rulers’ Council expressing confidence in his ability to represent the constituency.
Earlier, political movements around Esa Oke had also provided evidence of shifting loyalties, with some APC and SDP figures defecting to Accord and declaring support for Adeleke.
One of those listed was a former ward representative to Oke. Olajengbesi described the development at the time as a consolidation of Accord’s influence in Obokun.
Saturday’s result has now given that mobilisation an electoral dimension.
For Oke, however, the issue goes beyond losing a local political battle.
As campaign DG, his responsibility was statewide, but Obokun/Oriade remained his natural political laboratory. His influence there was expected to be translated into votes for Oyebamiji.
That did not happen completely.
APC’s victory in Obokun shows that Oke still possesses considerable political influence. Accord’s win in Oriade and its overall advantage in the state, however, indicates that the old political equation may be changing.
It also gives Olajengbesi a psychological advantage going into 2027.
The young lawyer can now point to the governorship election and argue that his camp has already demonstrated that Oke’s political machinery is not invincible.
Oke is not necessarily the only political heavyweight whose standing will be subjected to post-election scrutiny.
Across Osun, several political leaders entered the election with expectations of delivering their strongholds to their preferred candidates.
Saturday’s result has now given that mobilisation an electoral dimension.
For Oke, however, the issue goes beyond losing a local political battle.
As campaign DG, his responsibility was statewide, but Obokun/Oriade remained his natural political laboratory. His influence there was expected to be translated into votes for Oyebamiji.
That did not happen completely.
APC’s victory in Obokun shows that Oke still possesses considerable political influence. Accord’s win in Oriade and its overall advantage in the state, however, indicates that the old political equation may be changing.
It also gives Olajengbesi a psychological advantage going into 2027.
The young lawyer can now point to the governorship election and argue that his camp has already demonstrated that Oke’s political machinery is not invincible.
Oke is not necessarily the only political heavyweight whose standing will be subjected to post-election scrutiny.
Across Osun, several political leaders entered the election with expectations of delivering their strongholds to their preferred candidates.
Some had publicly boasted about the strength of their structures, while others had been presented as major pillars of the APC’s attempt to reclaim the state.
Among these top shots are APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Osun West campaign DG Dotun Babayemi and other prominent party leaders will inevitably face questions about the extent to which their political territories responded to the expectations placed on them.
Basiru and Lekan Badmus, for instance, had been identified as major APC mobilisers in Osogbo and Olorunda, while Babayemi was expected to play a major role in the Osun West battleground. (Punch Newspapers)
Such assessments are not necessarily a declaration that every leader personally lost his polling unit or ward. Rather, they form part of the political post-mortem that normally follows a major election: who delivered, who underperformed and whose influence has been exaggerated.
Interestingly, despite the political scorecard, Olajengbesi struck a conciliatory tone on Sunday.
Rather than celebrate his apparent political advantage over Oke or deepen the already fierce rivalry, he called for unity and urged Osun people to move beyond the election.
“The election is over. The people have spoken, and democracy has prevailed,” he said.
He added: “Now is the time to come together as one people and one family. Beyond political parties and differences, we are all Osun people.”
Olajengbesi further declared: “There is no victor, no vanquished.”
He urged politicians and residents to put the election behind them and work together for peace, progress and development, stressing that “Osun comes first.”
The statement could prove politically significant.
For a politician who is already positioning himself for a major 2027 contest, reconciliation offers a different image from the combative campaign rhetoric that characterised much of the pre-election period.
2027 begins in Obokun/Oriade
Saturday’s election may have ended the battle for Osun’s governorship, but it has arguably opened another one in Obokun/Oriade.
Oke remains an experienced political operator with a formidable network. Olajengbesi, on the other hand, has demonstrated that he can build a serious grassroots campaign around his own political ambition.
With Accord winning the overall governorship contest in the constituency, despite APC’s victory in Obokun, the first post-election scorecard belongs to Olajengbesi.
It is only 1-0.
But with 2027 already looming, the bigger question is whether Saturday’s result was merely an isolated governorship victory for Accord or the first sign of a deeper realignment in Obokun/Oriade.
That is the political battle worth watching next.
Among these top shots are APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Osun West campaign DG Dotun Babayemi and other prominent party leaders will inevitably face questions about the extent to which their political territories responded to the expectations placed on them.
Basiru and Lekan Badmus, for instance, had been identified as major APC mobilisers in Osogbo and Olorunda, while Babayemi was expected to play a major role in the Osun West battleground. (Punch Newspapers)
Such assessments are not necessarily a declaration that every leader personally lost his polling unit or ward. Rather, they form part of the political post-mortem that normally follows a major election: who delivered, who underperformed and whose influence has been exaggerated.
Interestingly, despite the political scorecard, Olajengbesi struck a conciliatory tone on Sunday.
Rather than celebrate his apparent political advantage over Oke or deepen the already fierce rivalry, he called for unity and urged Osun people to move beyond the election.
“The election is over. The people have spoken, and democracy has prevailed,” he said.
He added: “Now is the time to come together as one people and one family. Beyond political parties and differences, we are all Osun people.”
Olajengbesi further declared: “There is no victor, no vanquished.”
He urged politicians and residents to put the election behind them and work together for peace, progress and development, stressing that “Osun comes first.”
The statement could prove politically significant.
For a politician who is already positioning himself for a major 2027 contest, reconciliation offers a different image from the combative campaign rhetoric that characterised much of the pre-election period.
2027 begins in Obokun/Oriade
Saturday’s election may have ended the battle for Osun’s governorship, but it has arguably opened another one in Obokun/Oriade.
Oke remains an experienced political operator with a formidable network. Olajengbesi, on the other hand, has demonstrated that he can build a serious grassroots campaign around his own political ambition.
With Accord winning the overall governorship contest in the constituency, despite APC’s victory in Obokun, the first post-election scorecard belongs to Olajengbesi.
It is only 1-0.
But with 2027 already looming, the bigger question is whether Saturday’s result was merely an isolated governorship victory for Accord or the first sign of a deeper realignment in Obokun/Oriade.
That is the political battle worth watching next.
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