The Osun religion row has escalated ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate, Benjamin Adereti, questioning Governor Ademola Adeleke’s religious identity, while the governor defended his administration’s record of support for the Muslim community.
Speaking during the 70th anniversary celebration of Union Baptist Church in Osogbo, Adereti accused the governor of being a religious hypocrite and claimed his religious identity remains unclear.
The APC deputy governorship candidate insisted that his party was not exploiting religion for political gain, arguing that the APC presented a balanced Muslim-Christian ticket for the election. According to Adereti, the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji, is a Muslim, while he serves as the Christian running mate, reflecting what he described as religious inclusiveness.
He contrasted the APC ticket with that of the Accord Party, stating that many residents were uncertain whether Governor Adeleke identified as a Christian or a Muslim. Adereti also expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the August 15 governorship election, saying the party expected widespread support from voters across the state.
Governor Adeleke responded shortly afterwards while addressing members of the Osun Muslim community in Osogbo.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor rejected the criticism and challenged the opposition to compare its record in office with the achievements of his administration for Muslims in the state. According to Adeleke, his government has undertaken projects and policies that demonstrate commitment to the welfare of the Muslim community more than previous administrations.
The governor said his administration is close to completing the state’s Hajj camp, describing the project as one that previous governments failed to execute despite years in office. He also disclosed that his administration is constructing a mosque within the Government House, noting that earlier administrations did not provide such a facility despite claiming strong Islamic credentials.
Adeleke further stated that many of his principal officers and cabinet members are Muslims, adding that his administration has ensured equitable representation for the Muslim community across different sectors of government. According to him, the performance of any leader should be measured by actions rather than religious labels.
The exchange marks another escalation in political campaigns ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election, with both camps seeking to convince voters of their credentials.
While the APC maintains that its ticket reflects religious balance, Governor Adeleke insists that his administration’s policies and projects provide stronger evidence of its commitment to serving the interests of the Muslim community. As campaigns continue, religion has emerged as one of several issues shaping political discourse ahead of the governorship contest in Osun State.
