In a video shared on X by user #Oyindamola on Monday, Dr Adedeji Adeleke, the elder brother of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, attributed the family’s victory over immediate past governor Gboyega Oyetola to fervent prayers rather than financial superiority.
Speaking at a celebratory ceremony held on Sunday following the Osun governorship election, he maintained that money did not dictate the poll’s outcome.
Reports had previously suggested that the opposition allegedly spent as much as ₦60 billion during the campaign, with vote-buying reportedly reaching up to ₦50,000 per vote in certain areas.
Reflecting on the election, Dr Adeleke noted: “The only reason why we defeated Oyetola is not because we are bigger, or we spend more money than him”.
He further elaborated on the alleged spending: “On election, they did not spend any money. (0:20) They spent 60 billion as we heard. Some places they bought votes for as high as 50,000 Naira for one single vote.”
Upon learning about the scale of the opposition’s alleged financial inducements on election day, Dr Adeleke said he retreated to his room to pray. He asked God to allow voters to accept the cash being offered whilst still casting their ballots in favour of his brother.
He recalled: “On the day of the election, when I heard the kind of money they were spending, I went back to my little corner in my room and I knelt down and I prayed to God. I said, God Almighty, please let people collect their money, but let them still vote for Ademola Adeleke.”
Dr Adeleke explained that his actions were rooted in a disciplined daily spiritual practice established before the election. This routine involved reading specific passages from the Bible, including Chapter 41 of the Book of Isaiah, which served as a central part of his personal testimony. He ultimately credited divine intervention for securing the electoral win.