•Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, govs, PDP, NDC, others congratulate him
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election at the Osun State governorship election at the weekend.
Governor Adeleke, Accord candidate (A), who polled 511,067 votes, defeated his closest rival and All Progressives Congress candidate (APC), Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy and made avaliable to State House correspondents, President Tinubu described the re-election of Adeleke as “a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our country under the All Progressives Congress administration”.
He urged Governor Adeleke to be magnanimous in victory by uniting all political tendencies in the state for “growth, stability, and social and economic progress, regardless of the political choices they made at the election”.
His statement read: “I called Governor Ademola Adeleke earlier today to congratulate him on his election victory in Osun State. His victory once again confirmed the confidence the people of Osun State have in him.
“I wish him great success as he prepares to lead the state for the next four years. Now that he has won, Governor Adeleke must unite the people of Osun State and rally them for growth, stability, and social and economic progress, regardless of the political choices they made at the election.
“I salute the courage and discipline displayed by other contestants in the election. Their participation deepened and enriched our country’s democratic culture. The outcome of the election reflects the will of the people and is a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our land.”
President Tinubu also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for conducting a peaceful and transparent election that produced a clear winner.
Osun poll shows APC will lose in 2027 — Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the outcome of the election is an indication that the APC will be defeated in the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stated this in a press statement by his media office on Sunday, while congratulating Governor Adeleke and the people of Osun State on the successful conduct and outcome of the poll.
He said the re-election of Governor Adeleke reflected the democratic wishes of Osun voters, who came out in large numbers despite alleged attempts to undermine the process.
“The outcome of last Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State is an expression of the wishes of the people, which has earned Governor Adeleke his re-election,” Atiku said.
“The lesson from the election is that the voters in Osun State have set a good example of how we must come out in large numbers in the general elections next year.
“Another important lesson from the Osun election is that it is a clear manifestation of how the collective resolve of the electorate to stand firm to protect their ballot is the best antidote to rigging, vote buying and other electoral malpractice and irregularities.”
“Nigerians have roundly rejected the APC. The election in Osun State is just a telling indication that the APC will be defeated in the general election in January 2027. Indeed, it is a forerunner of the 2027 General Elections,” he stated.
Obi commends Adeleke, urges Nigerians to protect their votes in 2027
Describing the outcome of the election as a victory for democracy and the people’s mandate, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, in a Facebook post on Sunday, said the people of Osun had spoken with “courage and clarity” by reaffirming their right to choose their leaders through the ballot.
He attributed Adeleke’s renewed mandate to what he described as the governor’s commitment to the people, compassion for their needs, and achievements in office.
“I warmly congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election and the good people of Osun State on this important democratic victory,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor particularly commended youths in Osun State for what he described as their courage and peaceful defence of their votes during the election.
Obi said the outcome of the election had reinforced the importance of citizens remaining vigilant and conscious of their civic responsibilities.
“The lesson from Osun is clear: democracy is strongest when citizens are alert, conscious of their civic responsibility, and determined to ensure that their votes count,” he said.
Osun election is a litmus test for the 2027 — Makinde
Describing the victory as a triumph for democracy and the people of the state, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who is also Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, stated in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, attributed Adeleke’s victory to his commitment to the people and delivery of good governance, saying the re-election was a reward for his performance in office.
He also commended the people of Osun State for exercising their franchise despite what he described as violence and the use of federal might to influence the outcome of the election.
He said: “This victory is a reward for his hard work and the delivery of good governance, and, as they say, the reward for hard work is more work.
“The results of the election proved again that the people reserve the absolute power in a democracy and that their movement will always triumph over all other considerations.”
He said the Osun governorship election was a litmus test for the 2027 general election, urging the electoral commission to meet Nigerians’ expectations.
“The Osun State Governorship election is a litmus test for the 2027 general election, an election in which Nigerians expect so much from INEC and it must not let them down,” he said.
Duke congratulates Adeleke, voters, INEC
Former Governor of Cross River State and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, describing the outcome of the election as a significant litmus test for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Duke, in a congratulatory statement signed by his Personal Assistant, Emeka Okparagu, on Sunday, said Adeleke’s victory demonstrated that the electorate could still make its choice through the ballot box.
Duke said the result represented the will of the Osun electorate and congratulated Adeleke on securing another four-year mandate.
“The people of Osun spoke with their vote and Nigerians heard them loud and clear. The people rewarded Governor Adeleke for his commitment to serving his people,” he said.
Duke said the August 15 poll provided important lessons for the country, particularly on voter participation, electoral credibility and the ability of citizens to freely determine their political leadership.
Don’t rest on your oars, PDP tells Nigerians
The Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians not to rest on their oars as 2027 approaches, urging them to learn from the resilience of Osun State voters, who ensured that Governor Adeleke emerged victorious in Saturday’s poll.
“The result of the Osun governorship elections, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), showing a convincing win by Governor Ademola Adeleke, is a clear message from Nigerians in Osun State about what the 2027 elections will be.
“The victory came at a high cost of strong will, vigilance and resistance by the people of Osun State against the entire rigging machinery of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who were desirous of winning the state at all costs,” the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, stated while reacting to the outcome of the poll.
“While we commend the resilience of the electorate in Osun, we urge Nigerians not to rest on their oars as the 2027,” the party said.
Osun election shows credible polls are possible —TMG
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and voters in Osun State for the conduct of the August 15, 2026 governorship election, while calling for the protection of the people’s mandate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its Chairman and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, TMG described the poll as “relatively seamless” and noted the absence of major technical glitches and the real-time uploading of polling-unit results on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
“TMG commends INEC for the relatively seamless conduct of the 15 August 2026 Osun State Governorship Election, particularly the absence of major technical glitches in most locations and the real-time uploading of polling-unit results on IReV,” the group said.
TMG also applauded Osun voters for their resilience and peaceful participation despite reported cases of vote buying, intimidation, harassment and other attempts to suppress voters.
According to the group, the election shows that INEC, under Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, can deliver a more transparent and credible process when its systems function as intended.
“INEC deserves commendation where it gets things right. The Osun experience demonstrates that the Commission is capable of conducting a transparent electoral process, particularly through the effective deployment of technology and real-time results transmission. At the same time, Nigerians must continue to demand improvements and hold the Commission accountable where it falls short,” TMG stated.
Osun has provided template for 2027 — G100
The G100 has congratulated Governor Adeleke, saying the outcome has provided a template for how the national opposition can approach the 2027 general elections.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Salihu Moh Lukman, on behalf of the G100.
The group commended the people of Osun State for their “determination and courage,” and also applauded opposition leaders and candidates who stepped down and mobilised support for Governor Adeleke.
“We congratulate, even more importantly, the people of Osun State, whose determination and courage have once again prevailed,” the statement said.
“We also commend the leaders and candidates of the opposition parties who, recognising the larger stakes in this election, set aside their individual ambitions, mobilised their structures and supporters, and worked together in support of Governor Adeleke. Their decision was an affirmation that there are moments when the greater democratic interest must come before the ambitions of any individual or political party.”
According to the G100, the significance of the Osun election goes beyond one governorship seat.
“The significance of what has happened in Osun goes far beyond the re-election of one Governor. Osun has provided a template for 2027,” it stated.
Adeleke’s victory is for democracy — IPAC
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, on Sunday, said the election demonstrated the resolve of Osun voters to defend constitutional governance despite what it described as harassment, intimidation, arrests, killings and alleged attempts to manipulate the electoral process through federal institutions.
The council said Adeleke’s victory was a source of encouragement to Nigerians committed to democratic governance, arguing that it showed the power of citizens to resist what it called anti-democratic forces.
“The victory of Accord in this election is sweet music in the ears of all lovers of democracy in Nigeria,” IPAC said.
The council said it had, as the umbrella body of registered political parties in Nigeria, consistently advocated the consolidation and strengthening of democracy and had condemned alleged political violence and interference by federal institutions ahead of the election.