By Monsurat Abisoye
Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has advised Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to remain vigilant ahead of the forthcoming governorship election, warning of alleged attempts to overturn the outcome.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric said Adeleke had been “anointed” to win a second term but claimed the All Progressives Congress (APC) may attempt to challenge or “snatch” victory after the polls.
He cautioned the governor not to be complacent, alleging that there were plans to influence the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to compromise the process.
Primate Ayodele said, “In Osun election, God has already anointed Ademola Adeleke to secure a second term in office. He will win the election, but the APC are working towards the aftermath of the win. They will attempt to snatch victory from Adeleke if he isn’t careful enough.”
He urged Adeleke to maintain close monitoring of the electoral process and ensure adequate oversight, insisting that some actors were allegedly planning to go beyond the ballot to secure victory.
The cleric also directed warnings at the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, advising him not to allow himself to be influenced by political actors in Osun State. He cautioned that any compromise could lead to serious consequences and make him a “scapegoat”.
According to him, if the election is rigged, the INEC chairman would face repercussions, while those who encouraged such actions would not support him afterwards.
Primate Ayodele further urged the electoral body to ensure fairness in order to avoid post-election crises, stressing that failure to act properly could result in public backlash from Nigerians.
