President Bola Tinubu congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election before the Independent National Electoral Commission formally declared the result, according to the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi.
The Punch reported that Olajengbesi disclosed this on Sunday while speaking shortly after INEC declared Adeleke the winner of the August 15 governorship election at its headquarters in Osogbo.
He commended Tinubu for what he described as the President’s commitment to allowing the electoral process to remain free and fair.
According to the campaign spokesperson, Tinubu’s call to Adeleke came before the official announcement of the result, which he described as an indication that politics should not be treated as a do-or-die affair.
“We are also appreciative of Mr President because, at the commencement of this election, Mr President announced to the world and informed the Independent National Electoral Commission that the poll should be credible, and we agree that the election was credible, free and fair.
“Even before the election results were announced, Mr President called Governor Adeleke and congratulated him. Politics should not be a do-or-die affair, and that is what Governor Adeleke stands for.Throughout this campaign, he has been more interested in the people.”
Olajengbesi said Tinubu deserved recognition for allowing the election to proceed without presidential interference, noting that the outcome demonstrated the President’s commitment to democratic principles.
He also celebrated Adeleke’s victory, describing it as a reflection of the wishes of Osun voters.
“I am super excited. This is the manifestation of God and the will of the people of Osun State. This election has clearly shown that Governor Ademola Adeleke is the man of the people, and it shows that Mr Governor has performed excellently.
The people of Osun have renewed his mandate.
Despite all the intimidation, harassment and reckless use of power by all institutions, Mr Governor emerged victorious.
“This is proof that the people of Osun State are determined to elect a leader who is willing to serve them,” he said.
The State Returning Officer, Prof Joshua Ogunwole, formally declared Adeleke the winner at about 7:24am on Sunday.
Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform, polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes.
The governor won 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third.
The result gives Adeleke a second term after he left the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he won the 2022 election, to contest the 2026 poll on the Accord Party platform.
Olajengbesi further said Adeleke had instructed his supporters to avoid vote-buying and commended voters for standing by the governor despite what he described as pressure to abandon him.
However, allegations of vote-buying and other electoral offences have emerged after the election, with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project calling for investigations by INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
