Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election.
Atiku, in a message posted on his X handle on Sunday, described Adeleke’s victory as a reflection of the choice of the people of Osun State at the ballot box.
He also commended the electorate for what he described as their passion and peaceful participation in the governorship election.
“I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke, @AAdeleke_01, on his re-election as Governor of Osun State.
“His victory demonstrates the choice of the people of Osun as expressed at the ballot box. I commend the people for their passion and peaceful participation. I wish Governor Adeleke continued success as he continues to serve them,” Atiku wrote.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) earlier declared Adeleke, candidate of the Accord Party, winner of the keenly contested election in the early hours of Sunday.
The governor secured 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 444,815 votes.
However, the ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished a distant third with 17,180 votes.
The results were announced by the Returning Officer for the election, Joshua Ogunwole, at the INEC Collation Centre in Osogbo.
A total of 15 political parties contested the election, while INEC said 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards had been collected in the state.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said President Bola Tinubu had congratulated Adeleke on his victory even before the final result was formally announced.
Olajengbesi disclosed this while addressing journalists at the INEC collation centre in Osogbo shortly after Adeleke was declared winner.
He commended Tinubu for what he described as the President’s decision not to interfere with the electoral process, saying the development demonstrated his commitment to his pledge that the election would be free, fair and credible.
“We want to believe that this election is very credible, but we do not agree that this election is free and fair because it was oppressive. Our people are still in detention. As I speak to you today, even during the election, over 11 persons were arrested in the process,” he said.
Despite the allegation, Olajengbesi praised the President for ensuring that the electoral process was allowed to proceed and that the outcome was respected.
“We are glad that the President was able to stand by his word and insist that the right thing must be done,” he said.
According to him, Tinubu contacted Adeleke before the final result was formally announced to congratulate him on his expected victory.
“Even before the result was declared yesterday night, Mr President called Mr Governor and congratulated him, and that is good leadership,” Olajengbesi said.
Politics Nigeria understands that Adeleke’s re-election comes after a fiercely contested poll across the state’s 30 local government areas, with the governor defeating the APC candidate by a margin of 66,252 votes.
