Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has attributed his success in the 2022 governorship election to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) introduced in the country. Adeleke asserted that without this electronic device, his opponents could have attempted to rig the election, as they did in 2018.
In an interview with Arise News, Governor Adeleke emphasized that his mandate was allegedly stolen in the 2018 governorship election, although he chose to overlook it. He acknowledged the significance of BVAS in safeguarding the electoral process and preventing potential rigging.
Governor Adeleke also highlighted the defection of those who were once against him to his party, stating that former opponents are now part of the PDP and supportive of his cause.
He expressed gratitude to then-President Buhari for signing BVAS into law, acknowledging the pivotal role it played in securing his victory. Governor Adeleke claimed that the BVAS prevented a repetition of the alleged rigging that occurred in the 2018 election.
Regarding his academic journey, Adeleke mentioned that after losing the 2018 election, he decided to return to school to encourage his constituents. He graduated with high honors and emphasized his commitment to introducing an American-style system where individuals can return to school even after dropping out.
Addressing reports about his alleged F9 grade in English during his WAEC exams, Adeleke clarified that the circumstances were different. He explained that during the 1981 WAEC exams, accusations of exam malpractice led to widespread failures in his set. Adeleke, who had already secured admission to a U.S. university, did not wait to see the results. Upon later retrieving his results, he discovered an F9 in English, which he attributed to the controversial circumstances surrounding the exams.
The governor emphasized his commitment to encouraging individuals to pursue education regardless of their past challenges, highlighting his belief that it is never too late to return to school.