The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has declared that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke is gradually losing political support ahead of the August 15 governorship election, insisting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is on course to reclaim the state.

Oyetola made the remarks on Saturday while addressing APC leaders, stakeholders and supporters in Osun State. He was reacting to allegations by Governor Adeleke that members of the APC were intimidating leaders and supporters of the Accord Party in the buildup to the governorship poll.

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Speaking in Yoruba, the former Osun State governor dismissed the allegations, describing them as signs that the incumbent governor had realised his administration was losing its political foothold in the state. According to him, Adeleke’s recent statements reflected growing concern over the outcome of the election rather than genuine complaints about the conduct of the opposition.

“They realised that they are already losing out. Then they claimed to have endorsed us. He almost cried. Endorsement cannot retain this seat for you. We are taking it over. If you like, make 10 endorsements, we will collect this one from you,” Oyetola said.

The minister urged APC supporters to remain focused and continue mobilising voters across the state, expressing confidence that the party’s governorship candidate would emerge victorious at the polls.

Oyetola also dismissed Governor Adeleke’s repeated references to him in public statements, saying he had deliberately refrained from engaging in political exchanges with the governor despite being frequently mentioned.

According to him, “If he sleeps and has nightmares, he will say he saw me. If his wife gave him food late, he would say I’m responsible for that. My name is so sweet in his mouth. Meanwhile, we are not even interested in his case. If we get interested in his case, he will feel it.”

His comments come amid heightened political activities in Osun State, with both the APC and the Accord Party intensifying campaigns ahead of the August 15 governorship election, which is expected to be one of the most closely contested polls in the state’s recent history.