The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has dismissed recent allegations by the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing them as “false, malicious, and politically desperate.”
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, the Minister categorically denied all claims made by the PDP, which had accused him of plotting to rig the forthcoming 2026 governorship election and manipulating federal institutions to frustrate governance in Osun State.
Insight Media had earlier reported that the Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the former Governor of alleged threats to rig the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
According to the Minister’s statement described the PDP’s press release as a “shameful and poorly scripted” attempt to malign his reputation, and a “deliberate smear campaign borne out of paranoia, fear, and desperation.”
The statement further reads,“At no point did the Honourable Minister threaten to rig any election. He remains a firm believer in democracy and the rule of law — a legacy he upheld throughout his tenure as Governor of Osun State and continues to embody in his current capacity as Minister.
The Minister has no control, nor has he ever claimed to control INEC, the Police, or the Attorney General of the Federation. The wild claims about “federal might” are not only laughable but an insult to Nigerians’ intelligence and democratic institutions”.
Addressing the PDP’s claim that local government allocations were being withheld under Oyetola’s influence, the statement described the narrative as a “mischievous distortion” meant to cover up the current administration’s failings in Osun.
“The allegations concerning local government allocations and court rulings are mischievous distortions by a party trying to mask its own incompetence in governance and failure to engage constructively on matters of public interest.
The PDP’s ridiculous resort to dragging the diplomatic community into their web of lies speaks volumes about their intentions to incite, confuse, and distract the public from the real issues plaguing Osun State under their watch.,” it added.
However, he challenged the PDP to provide any verifiable evidence such as audio or video recordings of the statements it attributed to Oyetola.
“We challenge the PDP to produce any verifiable evidence audio, video, or minutes of the alleged meeting to support these outrageous claims. Until then, the world should treat their statement as nothing but what it is: the dying gasp of a political party on the verge of another resounding electoral defeat”.
The Minister reaffirmed his commitment and that of the APC to free, fair, and credible elections, urging the people of Osun State to ignore the distractions of the PDP and remain focused on the goal of restoring what he called competent, people-oriented governance come 2026.
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