The spiritual head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has predicted that Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, will win the 2026 governorship election.

Ayodele made the prediction during an empowerment programme organised by his church in Lagos.

At the programme, which had in attendance, Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, represented by his Chief of Staff; Senator Abiodun Olujimi from Ekiti State among others, the prophet noted that according to the revelation shown to him by God, Adeleke had been ordained to rule the state once again, no matter how the contest may be.

Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Ayodele was quoted as recalling that when he met Adeleke in 2017, he told him that he would win the 2018 governorship election, but would not get to the seat, which, according to him, eventually came to pass.

“Your Excellency, let me remind you. In 2018, you were in the Senate. I came to your house, a white-story building located along the road. I told you that you will win but they will rob you of victory,” he said.

“You stood up, screamed and later danced to give thanks to God. When the election was rigged, I gave thanks to God for the grace he gave me to deliver His message to you.”

While describing former governor of Osun State, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, as his friend, Ayodele disclosed that their friendship ended when he told him that God did not promise him a return to office in 2022 but the latter turned a deaf ear.

The clergy stated, “Oyetola was my friend. I told him he would lose the election, but he was not ready to listen to the voice of God, and that was what led to separation between us. If All Progressive Congress (APC) should field Oyetola come 2026, he will still lose. Anybody the APC fields for the race, Adeleke will beat him. It is divine.

“People have been calling me a controversial prophet, but I don’t care because God himself is also controversial. I am now giving you God’s words that you, Governor Adeleke, will win the 2026 governorship election, no matter how it may be.

“I want to tell you that if Oyetola should contest again, it’s going to be a red card for him.”

He, however, urged Adeleke not to consider moving out of the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP), saying the party had been anointed by God to remain in power in Osun State.