Osun poll victory: Adeleke offers peace as APC weighs tribunal challenge

By: Abudu Olalekan

Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for peace and harmony in the state after winning re-election, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) reviews the results before challenging the outcome in court.

The electoral body declared Adeleke President of Osun State after polling 511,067 votes, with APC Governor Bola Oyebamiji taking the second position with 444,815 votes.

Adeleke emerged winner in 19 local government areas (LGAs) while his opponent Oyebamiji won in 11 LGAs in the state.

The results were announced on Sunday by the State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

The President, Bola Tinubu, has congratulated Governor Adeleke, calling the victory a testimony to the people’s trust in him.

President Tinubu, in a statement by his Special adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he had called Governor Adeleke to congratulate him on his victory.

His victory once again attests to the confidence of the people of Osun State in him and his leadership philosophy.

President Tinubu asked Governor Adeleke, in his message, to continue to consolidate his victory and promote peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, creed, or political difference.

The President commended the other aspirants in the gubernatorial race, including Bola Oyebamiji and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, for their willingness to serve the people of Osun.

He said the victory was a demonstration of the people’s yearning for democracy and the adjudication of justice in the country.

President Tinubu also commended the INEC and security agencies for conducting the election in a peaceful and transparent manner as directed by him.

His remarks came a day after he urged the electoral body and security agencies to ensure adequate security for voters and election workers in Osun State.

Governor Adeleke calls for peace in the state

Governor Adeleke extended his appreciation to the people of Osun for the tremendous trust they had reposed in him by giving him the mandate to lead the state for a second time.

In his statement, the Governor reached out to his rivals and called for the end to the impasse following the tension that gripped the state and the gun violence in various parts of Osun.

I call for an end to all the tension and violence in the state, there are no winners and losers in democracy, and I remain committed to serving all Osun people.

Governor Ademola Adeleke

“I extend an olive branch to my co-contestants. I am the Governor of all Osun people,” he said.

Governor Adeleke acknowledged the huge challenges and sacrifices people made for the success of his first term in office and vowed to make every effort to transform the state into a global city under his renewed five cardinal points agenda.

The Governor urged residents, traditional rulers, and community leaders to help restore peace and harmony in Osun State, which has been fraught with tension after the rigmarole of the election and gun violence.

Governor Adeleke called on the people of Osun to forgive one another for engaging in any form of violence and stop retaliating, saying the state had suffered enough.

He laid a minute silence for victims of election violence and asked traditional rulers to help foster peace and harmony in their areas.

“As you have placed your faith and trust in me to lead Osun State for the second time, I will continue to reinforce my achievements and correct my mistakes.

Osun will witness more rapid development and transformation under my renewed five-point agenda.

Governor Ademola Adeleke further thanked the media and well-wishers in Nigeria and the diaspora for their support in the arduous journey.

The Governor thanked President Tinubu for promoting a credible and peaceful election.

Governor Adeleke once again affirmed his commitment to the leadership of President Tinubu and called for a peaceful transfer of power for the 2027 general election.

The APC reviews results before challenging the outcome in court

The APC in Osun State has commenced a review of the results of the results declaration in all the 332 wards.

The party also left the door open for legal challenges by the various courts in the state.

The APC, in a statement by the spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said an electioneering exercise will commence as the party weighs its options, including going to the INEC and other designated courts.

An electioneering exercise will commence as the party weighs its options, including going to the INEC and other designated courts.

“We will take a break as the APC looks at its options in challenging the results. However, our supporters and volunteers should continue to stand firm.

Our opponents are yet to learn a salient lesson in democracy,” said the APC spokesperson.

The APC also called on the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to guarantee the safety of its members and volunteers who, it said, had been intimidated by the opposition in various parts of the state.

Conclusively, the APC said it would pursue the matter to the level best within the bounds of the law, noting that the storm around the state would soon subside.

ADC asks INEC to explain why results upload was interrupted

The ADC has asked the INEC to explain why result uploading was interrupted for an extended period, minutes after polling stations closed.

The party alleged that the uploading was deliberately halted for hours on Saturday.

In a public statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the uploading of results into INEC’s Result Viewing Portal was interrupted for almost four hours.

The ADC claimed the uploads stopped at around 8 pm, precisely when their results showed Oyebamiji leading.

“The ADC hereby demands a comprehensive explanation from the Independent National Electoral Commission regarding the observed interruption to the results upload,” said Abdullahi.

However, the ADC did not provide any proof that INEC deliberately shut down the upload.

The party claimed the situation needed to be clarified for the credibility of the electoral process in Nigeria.

INEC later completed the collation and declared Adeleke President of Osun.

The ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

The ADC noted that Adeleke’s win showed that Nigerians could overcome challenges to vote despite the efforts of the APC to use money and machinery to buy votes.

It condemned the APC’s massive deployment of party workers and politicians to the campaign.

According to the ADC, Adeleke’s victory demonstrated the opposition parties’ ability to challenge the APC on the eve of the 2027 general elections.

However, the party warned against complacency, saying there were still several challenges.

“We must not allow the euphoria of this victory to blind us to the dangers that lie ahead.

The ADC is confident that the people of Osun know what they want, and we can achieve more when all political parties work together to ensure a functional and peaceful Osun State.

Salaam congratulates Adeleke

Salaam also congratulated the newly elected Governor and wished him success in his second term in office, saying the victory was a testimonial of the people’s yearning for democracy.

Salaam, in a statement, urged Governor Adeleke to accept the people’s verdict and continue to deliver value-based leadership in his second term in office.

He urged his to consolidate his victory and make every effort to improve Osun State.

Salaam, the ADC gubernatorial candidate, said the governance of the state needed to change, calling for self-correction, especially in areas where lapses had occurred.

He said Osun residents must demand better governance that empowers them to live in peace, wealth, and harmony.

“Politics is not a do-or-die affair; the people have spoken, democracy has triumphed,” said Salaam.

He wished Governor Adeleke peace and joy as he begins his new term in office.