I Did Not Brag To Rig Osun 2026 Election Using INEC, Police – Oyetola
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has denied the claim that he threatened to rig the 2026 Gubernatorial election in Osun State.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, in a statement by its chairman, Sunday Bisi, had alleged that Oyetola, during a meeting last week, said he had perfected a plan to use officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Police to win the election for the All Progressives Congress candidate.
But the former governor in a statement by his
Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, said the statement by the Osun PDP boss was riddled with lies, fabrications, and reckless propaganda aimed at maligning the person of the Minister.
“Let it be made abundantly clear that every single claim in the PDP’s concocted tale is false, malicious, and baseless. It is nothing more than a deliberate smear campaign borne out of paranoia, fear, and desperation, as the PDP stares down the barrel of a looming defeat in the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election,” the statement noted.
It said contrary to what the Osun PDP boss alleged, Oyetola did not utter any of the statements attributed to him
“At no point did the Honourable Minister threaten to rig any election. He remains a firm believer in democracy and the rule of law — a legacy he upheld throughout his tenure as Governor of Osun State and continues to embody in his current capacity as Minister,” the statement said.
“The Honourable Minister has no control, nor has he ever claimed to control INEC, the Police, or the Attorney General of the Federation. The wild claims about “federal might” are not only laughable but an insult to Nigerians’ intelligence and democratic institutions,” the statement added.
The statement challenges the PDP to provide any proof to substantiate its allegations, adding that Oyetola is committed to a free and credible election.
“We challenge the PDP to produce any verifiable evidence — audio, video, or minutes of the alleged meeting — to support these outrageous claims. Until then, the world should treat their statement as nothing but what it is: the dying gasp of a political party on the verge of another resounding electoral defeat.
“The Honourable Minister and the APC remain committed to free, fair, and credible elections in Osun State and across Nigeria. We urge the good people of Osun to ignore the distractions of the PDP and stay focused on the mission to restore competent, people-oriented governance in 2026,” the statement added.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
