Former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola has rejected Governor Ademola Adeleke’s claim that he provided him with a vehicle, insisting that the car was given to him by the state government as part of his statutory benefits.

Oyinlola made the clarification on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, days after withdrawing his support for Adeleke’s re-election and endorsing the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in Saturday’s governorship election.

The former governor said the Osun State House of Assembly had enacted a law providing benefits for former governors, including the replacement of their official vehicles every four years.

He maintained that Adeleke had no personal role in providing the vehicle, stressing that it was an entitlement guaranteed under state law.

Oyinlola, who said he had been out of government for 16 years, argued that the provision meant he was still entitled to three additional vehicles.

“That is far from the truth. It’s a sad development that the governor will continue to tell lies,” he said.

According to him, the benefits provided under the law also include security personnel, a cook and drivers for former governors.

Oyinlola further denied Adeleke’s allegation that he had approached him to request a vehicle, saying he had no reason to beg the governor for one.

He described the claim as an attempt to portray his statutory entitlement as a personal favour from Adeleke.

The controversy followed Adeleke’s criticism of Oyinlola after the former governor announced his decision to support Oyebamiji, despite previously backing the incumbent’s re-election bid.

Speaking at a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Adeleke accused Oyinlola of opposing his political ambitions on several occasions, including during his 2007 senatorial bid and his unsuccessful governorship campaigns in 2018 and 2022.

The governor also claimed that Oyinlola sought reconciliation after Adeleke won the governorship election and later complained about not having a vehicle, which he said prompted him to provide one.

Adeleke subsequently downplayed Oyinlola’s political influence, describing him as a “paperweight” and saying his decision to support the APC candidate would not determine the outcome of the election.

Oyinlola, however, said his decision to back Oyebamiji was driven by concerns over what he described as a lack of inclusiveness in Adeleke’s administration.

He announced on Sunday that he and some PDP stakeholders would support the APC candidate while maintaining that he remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Osun governorship election is expected to be competitive, with 15 candidates contesting the poll across the state’s 30 local government areas.

More than 25,000 security personnel have been deployed for the election, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said preparations for the poll remain on course.