Sowore blasts Adeleke for endorsing Tinubu despite death of several Osun people

Activist Omoyele Sowore has harshly criticized Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for endorsing President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign just a day after securing his own gubernatorial victory. In a post on his official X account on Monday, August 17, 2026, Sowore questioned the reported deaths resulting from the violence preceding and during the Osun election.

He alleged that nearly 50 individuals had lost their lives in the unrest, prompting him to demand answers as to who was responsible for these deaths and why there has been no substantive response to address the issue.

Sowore specifically faulted Adeleke's decision to support Tinubu, contending that the governor's choice was driven by their shared Yoruba ethnicity. He accused Adeleke of hastily endorsing Tinubu's re-election bid, "less than 24 hours after INEC declared him the winner," to demonstrate their allegiance to a Yoruba leader. Sowore emphasized that Adeleke had not previously demonstrated any such political loyalty, suggesting that his endorsement was purely motivated by identity politics.

The activist further questioned the authorities' role in the violence and demanded a thorough investigation into the incidents, asking who was at the helm of ordering or enabling the violence. He also pressed for justice for the families of the deceased, labeling the perpetrators as "wicked people."