A faith-based civil liberties organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State of marginalising Muslims and allegedly plunging them into poverty through what it described as exclusionary governance.
The group made the allegation in a statement issued on August 5, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
MURIC claimed that Muslims in Osun had suffered political marginalisation, economic deprivation, and social exclusion under Adeleke’s administration, alleging that government appointments and opportunities were skewed against them.
According to the group, the composition of the state executive council reflects what it described as an imbalance, alleging that 17 commissioners were Christians while only seven were Muslims. It argued that this ratio does not reflect the religious demography of the state and has limited Muslim participation in governance.
The organisation further alleged that key leadership positions in the Osun State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, and Chief Whip, are occupied by Christians, alongside the deputy governor, whom it also identified as a Christian.
MURIC dismissed the governor’s claims of supporting Muslim interests through infrastructural projects such as mosque renovations and improvements to the Hajj camp in Osogbo, stating that such efforts do not directly address the welfare and economic challenges facing Muslims in the state.
The group also referenced a recent press conference by a coalition of Muslim leaders under the aegis of Concerned Muslim Stakeholders and the League of Alfas in Osun State, which similarly raised concerns about alleged marginalisation.
MURIC warned that the alleged imbalance in political representation had negatively affected employment opportunities and access to government benefits for Muslims.
The organisation urged Muslim voters in the state to consider these issues in the forthcoming election, expressing strong opposition to a second term for Governor Adeleke.
READ ALSO: FG Inaugurates Inter-Ministerial Platform to Drive Family Planning, Human Capital Development
Flooding: FG, Lagos Intensify Joint Action to Prevent Future Disasters
As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Government had not issued an official response to the allegations.
The governorship election in Osun State is scheduled to hold on August 15, 2026.
About The Author
