Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke says he visited the grave of his late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, a day before the governorship election to seek his prayers and guidance.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has revealed that he visited the grave of his late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, shortly before the just-concluded governorship election to seek his prayers and guidance.

Adeleke made the emotional disclosure during an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, August 16, 2026, while reflecting on his relationship with his late brother and the personal memories he still holds dear.

The governor described his late brother as not only a sibling but someone with whom he shared a particularly close bond. According to him, the two had similar personalities and enjoyed life in much the same way.

“I and my late brother, Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, are alike. We behave the same way. He loved life too, you know,” Adeleke said.

Senator Isiaka Adeleke, popularly known as “Serubawon,” was a former governor of Osun State and served as a senator representing Osun West Senatorial District. His death in April 2017 was a major loss to the Adeleke family and his supporters across the state.

For Governor Adeleke, however, the loss remains deeply personal.

He said he continues to miss his elder brother and sometimes becomes emotional whenever he visits his grave.

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“I miss him a lot. Sometimes I cry. I will go to his grave and say, ‘Brother, I miss you,’ and I will cry,” the governor recounted.

Adeleke explained that visiting his brother’s grave has become one of the ways he copes with the loss and maintains a sense of connection with him.

He further disclosed that he made his most recent visit shortly before the governorship election, as he prepared for another major political contest.

According to the governor, he went to the grave and spoke to his late brother as though he were still physically present, asking him to pray for him ahead of the election.

“Brother, here I am again. I am going for an election. I want you to pray for me,” Adeleke recalled telling him.

The revelation offered a rare glimpse into the more personal side of the governor, whose political career has been closely linked to the Adeleke family’s longstanding influence in Osun politics.

Adeleke’s relationship with his late brother has remained a significant part of his public and private life. Isiaka Adeleke was the first elected governor of Osun State and later represented Osun West in the Senate.

The governor’s account also highlights the emotional weight that major political moments can carry, particularly when they are tied to family history and memories of loved ones who are no longer alive.

Adeleke went into the August 15, 2026 governorship election seeking another term in office, with the contest attracting significant attention across Osun State.

His decision to visit his late brother’s grave before the election, he explained, was rooted not only in remembrance but also in the enduring bond he believes they continue to share.

For Adeleke, the visit was therefore more than a personal ritual. It was an emotional moment of remembrance, reflection and a request for spiritual support from a brother whose influence, he said, remains strong in his life.