A chieftain of the Accord Party, Timothy Folaranmi, has disclosed that the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15 governorship election was partly a testament of certain political strategies.

Folaranmi explained that one of the strategies was grassroots development, of which the people had already declared their support for the governor more than a year before the election.

The politician, popularly known as Timo Ejigbo, said foot soldiers had been going about communities, discovering the people’s needs and drawing the attention of Governor Adeleke to the social challenges, which he said were immediately addressed.

Also, he said Governor Adeleke’s re-election was achieved through prayers, perseverance and the confidence of the people of Osun in his administration.

Recall that the incumbent governor and Accord Party candidate won the election with 511,067 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who secured 444,815 votes.

Folaranmi, who spoke with the executives of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Osun State chapter, on Thursday, while reflecting on the outcome of the governorship election, said the Governor performed very well during his first tenure, hence, the reason why the residents voted him for a second tenure in office.

According to him, Adeleke’s performance was responsible for the support he received from voters, expressing confidence that the governor would perform better during his second term.

“The people of Osun that voted for the Governor know who he is and the work he has been doing that warranted them voting for him, and I believe that he will do better than the first term,” Folaranmi added.

As a politician popularly known for his philanthropic gestures, especially in his hometown, Ejigbo, Folaranmi further revealed that he had started mobilizing support for Adeleke for about a year and half, noting that the strategies added to the victory the governor recorded.

Speaking on his motivation for political participation, Folaranmi said his involvement in politics was driven primarily by his desire to contribute to the welfare and development of his people rather than personal gain.

“I do not have much, but the little God gives me, I give it out. I can just say giving out is my talent. What drives me into politics is not just personal gain. One of the reasons I joined politics is so that we can help our people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Comrade Tunde Salami, popularly known as Sportman, commended Folaranmi for his contributions to sports development and grassroots mobilisation in Ejigbo.

Salami said Folaranmi had become a major contributor to football development in the local government, describing his interventions as significant to the growth of young talents.

“Today, when we talk about sports development in Ejigbo Local Government, we cannot do without Comrade Timothy Folaranmi. He has done a lot in the football circle,” Salam said.

Salami also highlighted Folaranmi’s sponsorship of the Timo for Imole Football Competition, which he said began in 2024/2025, noting that the competition had provided opportunities for young footballers in the area.

“He hosted the first edition of the football competition in 2024/2025 called Timo for Imole Football Competition. The first prize came with millions of naira, and we are just deciding on the second edition last week. He is the best so far and we really appreciate him,” he said.

He further disclosed that Folaranmi had supported referees, players and coaches, including assisting some coaches who recently completed professional training courses.

Salam said the sports community in Ejigbo was grateful for Folaranmi’s interventions and promised that stakeholders would reciprocate his support by contributing to the development of sports in the area.

He said Folaranmi understood the importance of sports to youth mobilisation, adding that the politician had made sports one of the pillars of his grassroots engagement.

“He also believes that where we have youths is mainly in sports. That is why he made sports one of the pillars of mobilisation,” Salam added.