With the August 15 Osun State governorship election approaching, key political figures are actively avoiding public debates. Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress both failed to attend an online event hosted by the BBC Yoruba Organisation last Friday.
Consequently, the Osun Media Governorship Debate, originally slated for Saturday at 3pm, was scrapped by its organizers. They cited a lack of participation from leading candidates and negative security assessments as the primary reasons for the cancellation.
Olajide Esan, the African Action Congress candidate who arrived at the venue before the announcement, criticized his opponents for avoiding scrutiny. He argued that their absence suggests they lack fresh solutions for the state. Esan urged voters to reconsider supporting parties that avoid public accountability, suggesting that these candidates contribute to existing problems rather than resolving them. He encouraged the electorate to prioritize candidates with proven capacity to address poverty.
