Fact-checking a claim that Adeleke gave appointments to his ‘entire family’

By Pascal Ibe

Introduction

Claims and counterclaims are being made by both the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party ahead of the Osun governorship election, which is just eight days away.

There was unease in Osun State on Wednesday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze the state’s accounts, giving flimsy reasons that this was a result of an ongoing probe of alleged looting of allocation funds.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, in his reply, maintained that the action of the EFCC was politically motivated.

However, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday directed the commission to immediately unfreeze the accounts.

Claim

As the build-up to the Osun gubernatorial election continues, there is a claim that Governor Adeleke shared appointments to his “entire family.”

An X user, @Magixlamy_ (Dr Alhaji Kowope Cole), posted a video that appears to show an elderly man holding a broom and speaking to a gathering of a few APC supporters.

Part of the caption to the clip claimed that “Adeleke Took Appointment & Gave The Entire Adeleke Family.”

With over 5,000 views and over a hundred likes, some X users who reacted to the post believed the claim.

“What about Tinubu are you people stupid or what didn’t Tinubu appoint all his family members into office Abi Oloriburuku ni gbogbo yin”, @AyobamiOj commented on the post.

Another X user, @Ebukalola, believed the claim and went further to share a photo of a chat depicting members of the Adeleke family who have been in power and who are still in power.

Verification

Adeleke was elected the Osun governor in 2022, but his appointment of commissioners,  special advisers and other positions came in July 2023.

First, a look at the governor’s appointment of 25 commissioners, FACTWATCH Nigeria discovered that two members of Governor Adeleke’s family were on the list.

Prof. Morufu Ademola Adeleke, who is currently serving as the commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget & Development, is the son of Late Senator Raji Ayoola Adeleke and brother to the Osun governor.

Also, the governor appointed Adenike Adeleke, the widow of his late brother, Isiaka Adeleke, as commissioner for Federal Matters.

Governor Adeleke also picked his nephew, Tunmise Adeleke Jnr., as chairman of the Osun State Local Government Service Commission.

In October 2025, the Osun State Government appointed global music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, as chairman of the State Sports Trust Fund.

Davido is the son of business magnate Adedeji Adeleke, who is the governor’s older brother.

From the 44 persons who were appointed as Special Advisers and Senior Special Advisers in 2023, no name proved to come from the governor’s immediate and extended family.

Verdict

Findings have shown that Governor Adeleke only appointed four members of his family. 

Therefore, the X user made an EXAGGERATED claim by saying that the governor gave appointments to his “ entire family.”