The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun State, Adebayo Simon Adewale, has withdrawn from Saturday’s governorship election and endorsed incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Adewale announced his decision ahead of the August 15 election, giving Adeleke another political boost as the governor seeks re-election.
The development comes amid intense political manoeuvring in Osun State, with major parties and candidates making final efforts to consolidate support before voters head to the polls.
According to reports, Adewale said his decision followed consultations with party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders.
His withdrawal means the APM candidate will no longer contest the election, while his endorsement potentially strengthens Adeleke’s position going into the final hours of the campaign.
Adewale is not the only candidate to withdraw from the race in support of the incumbent. The PDP candidate, Adedamola Adebayo, has also reportedly stepped down and endorsed Adeleke.
The development adds another layer to an already fiercely contested election involving Adeleke and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, among others.
With the election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, the latest endorsements could influence the final political calculations as candidates race to secure every available bloc of support.
The Osun election has attracted heightened attention, with security preparations also intensified across the state ahead of voting.