March 9, 2026
News
The political atmosphere in Osun State has intensified as the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) clash over corruption allegations involving the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The Osun State Government has accused Oyebamiji of being involved in the alleged mismanagement of a $20 million primary healthcare grant provided by the World Bank, as well as the mishandling of state-owned mining licences.
In a statement issued on Monday, the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, said the administration would expose what it described as the APC candidate’s controversial record as the state prepares for the upcoming governorship election.
According to the statement, Oyebamiji allegedly demonstrated financial impropriety, anti-worker policies, and administrative failures during his tenure as Osun State Commissioner for Finance.
The Governor’s Office maintained that the achievements of Governor Adeleke’s administration are well known to the public, insisting that the APC candidate is “not fit for the governorship.”
Rasheed stated that Oyebamiji’s performance in three major public service positions raised questions about his competence and suitability for the state’s top office.
“The APC candidate has three broad records on which his qualifications, competency, and suitability for the governorship can be assessed. Going by those three spaces, the candidate failed all the tests by all accounts,” the statement read.
The government alleged that while serving as Commissioner for Finance, Oyebamiji played a central role in the failure to properly manage the $20 million primary healthcare grant from the World Bank, which it claimed later became a “slush fund” under the administration of former governor Gboyega Oyetola.
It also accused him of mismanaging Osun State-owned mining licences, warning that the licences were nearly revoked before the intervention of Governor Adeleke’s administration.
Beyond the alleged corruption, the state government claimed Oyebamiji oversaw questionable transactions involving public assets during his tenure as head of the Osun State Investment Company (OSICOL). The statement alleged that state properties in Lagos and Abuja were poorly handled under his leadership.
The government further claimed that mining investments tied to the Segilola Gold Project deprived the state of its rightful revenue until the current administration renegotiated the agreements and restored earnings to the state treasury.
Additionally, the government alleged that Oyebamiji authorised the sale of the state’s holdings in Omoluabi to a proxy company through what it described as a “less-than-transparent process.”
The statement also accused the APC candidate of supporting policies that negatively affected workers and retirees in the state, including the implementation of half salaries and the failure to pay pension debts.
“He pursued anti-workers’ measures by supporting the non-payment of pension debts and other entitlements of senior citizens,” the statement added.
The government further criticised Oyebamiji’s tenure as Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), claiming that more than 1,000 waterway deaths were recorded during his leadership.
However, the APC has strongly denied the allegations.
The party’s Director of Media and Publicity in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, described the accusations as political theatrics aimed at discrediting the APC candidate ahead of the election.
“The allegations levelled against our candidate are mere theatrics and not true. He was never involved in any form of corruption. Those making these claims are simply jittery because our candidate is poised to win the upcoming election,” Olabisi said.
He added that the party would study the allegations and respond appropriately after consulting with party leaders.
Meanwhile, the political contest in Osun State continues to heat up as other parties, including the Accord Party, have also accused the APC of attempting to pressure them politically, a claim the ruling party has denied.
The escalating accusations signal an increasingly intense battle ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
