In November 2022, Ademola Adeleke took office as Osun State governor after defeating the incumbent, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with 403,371 votes to Mr Oyetola’s 375,027.
Mr Adeleke campaigned on a five-point agenda centred on workers’ welfare, economic development, infrastructure, people-focused social services, and agro-industrialisation aimed at creating wealth and jobs.
He promised to ensure that public resources served the people of the state.
Upon assuming office, Mr Adeleke claimed he inherited a state facing substantial obligations, including salary and pension arrears, infrastructure deficits and a public sector burdened by accumulated liabilities.
The governor, who was elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, said Mr Oyetola left a debt of N75 billion in salaries and pensions. The claim contradicted the former governor’s farewell statement, wherein he said he left N14 billion in the state’s operating account and didn’t take a loan during his tenure.
