As the people of Osun go to the polls today, August 15, 2026, to elect their next governor in the state’s off-cycle election, several claims by political actors have circulated during the campaign period.
Here are five notable claims identified in the lead-up to the off-cycle governorship poll in Osun.
CLAIM I: Governor Adeleke’s administration has held no Executive Council meeting since assuming office.
During an Arise News governorship town hall ahead of the election, Bola Munirudeen Oyebamiji, APC governorship candidate, claimed that the Ademola Adeleke administration had not held a State Executive Council meeting since assuming office.
Verification:
Available online records contradict the claim.
The Osun State Government documented an Executive Council meeting in September 2023, another in October 2023, and further meetings in 2024. The government also described a June 2025 meeting as the fourth Executive Council meeting of that year.
The record continued into 2026, with the government reporting Executive Council meetings in February and March, 2026.
An article published by TheCable identified these multiple Executive Council meetings during Adeleke’s tenure.
Verdict: FALSE.
CLAIM II: A video showing APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi inciting crowd against Accord Party members was AI-generated
A video circulated shortly before the election showing Senator Francis Fadahunsi of the APC addressing supporters in Yoruba. In the video, he could be heard saying that from then until election day, if Accord Party members were seen, “it’s killing”.
Fadahunsi subsequently disputed the statement, claiming the viral presentation was AI-generated.
Verification:
A review of the video shows that it was not AI-generated as claimed by the APC Senator.
Fadahunsi could be seen speaking in the video during a campaign outing in Ilesa, Osun State.
Separate footage also shows Fadahunsi attempting to clarify the controversial “killing” remark, rather than denying that he appeared in the video.
Verdict: FALSE
Multiple media reports and the senator’s subsequent clarification indicate that the footage was not an AI-generated fabrication.
CLAIM III: Senator Wadada’s wife was distributing cash to voters in Osun ahead of polls
A video circulated shortly before election day showing Hajiya Maryam Wadada, wife of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, the APC governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, distributing bundles of cash. The video was circulated online as evidence of vote-buying in Osun ahead of the August 15 election.
Verification:
A review of the viral video shows that Maryam Wadada was the one in the footage, but the claim that the event took place in Osun was found to be untrue.
Multiple media reports traced the cash-distribution event involving Maryam Wadada to Nasarawa State, with no credible evidence linking the footage to Osun.
Verdict: FALSE.
CLAIM IV: Osun workers have not embarked on strike under Governor Ademola Adeleke
In an attempt to justify his re-election bid, Governor Ademola Adeleke highlighted his administration’s record on workers’ welfare, claiming that workers have not embarked on strike in Osun under his administration.
Verification:
Checks revealed that the claim is not true, as documented industrial actions contradict the broad claim that Osun workers have not embarked on strike under his administration.
In 2023, judicial workers in Osun embarked on strike amid a dispute involving the state judiciary. The Osun State Government itself acknowledged the strike and later announced a resolution agreement with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
Additionally, local government workers under NULGE were involved in an 11-month strike over the dispute surrounding control of the local government councils. The workers resumed in January 2026 after the prolonged industrial action.
There have also been reports of industrial action involving other categories of workers, including assembly and health-sector workers.
Verdict: FALSE.
Available online records show that particular categories of workers or institutions in Osun have embarked on industrial action during Governor Adeleke’s administration.
CLAIM V: Osun was the first State to pay the new national minimum wage under Governor Adeleke
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has highlighted his administration’s implementation of the new minimum wage as evidence of its commitment to workers’ welfare, claiming that Osun was the first state to implement it.
Verification:
Checks reveal that Osun State was not the first state to implement the new national minimum wage. Available online reports show that Osun began implementation of the new minimum wage of around N75,554 from December 1, 2024.
Edo State had already increased its minimum wage to ₦70,000 months before Osun began implementation of its new wage in December. Governor Godwin Obaseki described Edo as the first state to raise the minimum wage to N70,000.
Other states, including Adamawa, had also commenced implementation before Osun. A September 2024 report by WikkiTimes stated that Adamawa and Edo had already begun paying the new N70,000 wage.
Verdict: FALSE.
Osun State was among the first set of states to implement the new national minimum wage, but it was not the first.
Leave a Reply