Two governorship candidates in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election have withdrawn from the race and endorsed incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The candidates are Adebayo Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Adedamola Adebayo, popularly known as Fryo, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Adewale announced his withdrawal during a press conference in Osogbo on Thursday, saying the decision followed consultations with party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders.
He subsequently urged his supporters to support Adeleke in Saturday’s election.
In a separate development, the PDP candidate, Adedamola Adebayo, also announced his withdrawal from the contest and declared his support for the incumbent governor.
The development represents a significant last-minute realignment in the Osun governorship race, coming less than 48 hours before voters are scheduled to cast their ballots.
The decision by the two candidates could potentially affect the distribution of votes in the closely contested election, particularly among their respective supporters.
Adeleke is seeking another term in office and faces a major challenge from the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, alongside candidates from other political parties.
The Osun governorship election has attracted heightened political activity in recent weeks, with major parties intensifying their campaigns and political leaders rallying support for their preferred candidates.
The latest endorsements have therefore added another dimension to the contest as political parties make final efforts to mobilise voters ahead of Saturday’s poll.
With the election only hours away, the withdrawals are expected to remain a major talking point as voters prepare to decide who will govern Osun State for the next four years.