Politics Is Local, Osun People Reject Godfatherism — Accord Chairman

Says Party Fully Prepared, Will Protect Votes, Ensure Victory

By Omidiran Seun

OSOGBO — The Osun State Chairman of the Accord Party, Pastor Victor Akande, has declared that the party is fully prepared for the governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.

Pastor Akande stated this on Friday during an exclusive interview with Treasure Newspaper at the Accord Party Secretariat, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo.

Speaking on the party’s level of preparedness, the chairman said Accord Party has been preparing for the poll in the last four years and is now putting finishing touches to its plans.

“When you know you are having an election, you need to prepare, not when the election is a few days away. We have been preparing for the past four years,” he said.

He disclosed that the party’s grassroots mobilisation is solid, from polling units to wards, adding that agents have been recruited for all polling units across the state and have undergone sensitisation and training.

“On Monday this week, we organised a sensitisation programme for our party agents on what to look out for and what to do at their units. Our campaign is also ongoing from local government to local government. We have visited almost all the local governments. There are only five left which we will cover before our grand finale here in Osogbo on Wednesday,” Akande said.

On Godfatherism and National Backing:

Reacting to the perception that Accord in Osun operates without a strong political godfather or national backing, Pastor Akande dismissed the notion, saying Osun people are against godfatherism.

“I will not subscribe to such a view. Every right-thinking person is against godfatherism because the godfathers are the ones cornering the dividends of democracy,” he stated.

He argued that politics is local, citing the example of former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who won election on the platform of the Labour Party without a national structure.

“Politics is local. It is the people in that locality that will determine who will govern them. This idea of godfatherism and national backing is a bad idea we need to jettison,” he said.

On Voter Intimidation and Vote Protection:

On voter intimidation, the Accord chairman urged Osun residents not to be deterred, stressing that power belongs to the people.

“No one should be deterred from exercising his franchise. Power belongs to the people. Those going around brandishing guns, how many people will they kill? When they see the masses, they will run away,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the party has the capacity to protect its votes, noting that the contest is not just between the APC and Accord, but between the citizens and the APC.

“We have carefully selected and trained our party agents. The people themselves will protect their votes. They will vote, wait until votes are counted, recorded and pasted on the wall as stipulated by the new Electoral Act,” he said.

He acknowledged that while the Electoral Act has helped to curb manipulation, its implementation has not always been substantial in previous elections, but expressed optimism that this time would be different.

On Adeleke Family Perception:

Responding to the narrative that the Adeleke family is elitist and disconnected from the common people, Akande described it as a fabrication.

“That is not true. It is a mere fabrication. The Adeleke family has been good to everyone in Nigeria even before coming into government. They gave scholarships to students across the South-West, paid hospital bills for many and have many students in their university on scholarship. Now in government, you can see what they have done,” he said.

On Blueprint for Governance:

On the party’s blueprint for tackling poverty, unemployment and insecurity, the chairman said the government will continue and improve on its current interventions.

He listed the establishment of cooperative societies in every ward to give residents access to loans, empowerment programmes for small businesses, recruitment of Amotekun Corps and recently about 1,000 teachers, as well as plans to mechanise agriculture to make Osun the food basket of the South-West.

Confidence in INEC:

Akande said he still has confidence in INEC, especially after listening to the INEC National Chairman who recently visited Osun and promised a free, fair, credible election and zero tolerance for manipulation.

“If that speech is translated to action, we have nothing to fear,” he said.

He maintained that regardless of any form of intimidation similar to what was witnessed in Edo State during the Obaseki election, Accord will emerge victorious.

“We are not deterred at all. We are focused on victory. Whatever they do, we will come out victorious. Power belongs to God,” he declared.

In his final message, Pastor Akande urged Osun residents to come out en masse on August 15 to vote for good governance, progress and continuity by voting for the Accord Party candidate, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, and to conduct themselves peacefully.

“Let them shun any form of violence. We are known to be Omoluabi in Osun State. Let that reflect in their conduct during this election,” he concluded.