Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, have congratulated Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election, describing the victory as significant to Nigeria’s democracy.
Adeleke, who contested the August 15 governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party, polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes.
The governor won by a margin of 66,252 votes, securing victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won in 11 LGAs.
Makinde, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said Adeleke’s victory was a reward for his hard work, commitment to the people and delivery of good governance.
The governor stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
Makinde congratulated Adeleke and 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 the result had once again demonstrated that the people remained the ultimate holders of power in a democracy.
“I congratulate my brother and Governor of Osun State, HE Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, on his re-election for another term.
“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.
“I also commend the teeming people of Osun State for their courage to vote for their choice despite the sheer use of federal institutions and powers to suppress and subvert their will,” he said.
Makinde urged Adeleke to see his re-election as an encouragement to deliver more development to the people of Osun State.
He also said the election had shown that the will of the people could prevail over political manoeuvring, urging political actors to uphold democracy and the rule of law.
“I did point out in my last newsletter that the rule of law must be allowed to prevail over the rule of politics.
“The voters in Osun State have taught politicians a lesson that the rule of the people and their willpower will always out-muscle the rule of politics.
“When politicians resort to all sorts of underhand tactics and enter a win-it-all-cost mode, not minding the survival of democracy or the rule of law, then the people will put them in check,” Makinde said.
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he described as the smooth conduct of the election, saying the Osun governorship poll was a litmus test for the 2027 general election.
“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.
Similarly, Dickson described Adeleke’s victory as significant not only to the governor and the people of Osun State but also to Nigeria’s democratic development.
Reacting to the result in a statement issued on Sunday, the former Bayelsa State governor said the outcome demonstrated that citizens could still assert their democratic will through the ballot despite what he described as an increasingly challenging political environment.
“I warmly congratulate the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the Osun State Governorship Election,” Dickson said.
He commended Osun voters for what he described as their firm defence of their democratic choice, saying the election had reinforced the importance of respecting the wishes of voters and protecting the sanctity of the ballot in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Dickson also urged candidates and political parties that lost the election to accept the outcome in the spirit of sportsmanship and work with Adeleke for the development of the state.
“I commend the people of Osun State for standing firm in defence of their democratic choice and call on all those who contested the election and emerged on the losing side to join hands with the Governor in the spirit of sportsmanship and work for the peace and development of Osun State,” he said.
He urged political actors in the state to put the interest of Osun above partisan differences and contribute to maintaining peace following the election.
The NDC National Leader said Adeleke’s victory should serve as a reminder that the people remain central to Nigeria’s democratic process and have the power to determine who governs them through their votes.