Tinubu Reaches Out to Adeleke Before Final Result, Congratulates Him on Victory

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election victory in the just-concluded governorship election.

The congratulatory message from the President was contained in a statement by Accord Party chieftain, Pelumi Olajengbesi.

Governor Adeleke was officially declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Sunday, following the governorship election conducted in Osun State on Saturday.

Olajengbesi disclosed this while addressing journalists at the INEC collation centre in Osogbo, shortly after Adeleke was declared the winner of the election.

He commended Tinubu for what he described as the President’s decision not to interfere in the electoral process, saying the development demonstrated his commitment to his pledge that the election would be free, fair and credible.

Olajengbesi, however, said that although the election was credible, it could not be regarded as entirely free and fair, citing alleged cases of oppression and the arrest of opposition supporters.

“Let me be honest with you, we are also appreciative of Mr. President because, at the commencement of this election, Mr. President himself announced to the world and gave a directive to INEC and all security agencies that this election must 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.

He nevertheless 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,” Olajengbesi said.

He further revealed that Tinubu had contacted Adeleke to congratulate him even before the final result was formally announced.

“Let me tell you this quickly: even before the result was declared yesterday night, Mr. President called Mr. Governor and congratulated him, and that is good leadership,” he said.

INEC declared the incumbent Governor, Adeleke, the winner of the August 15 governorship election.

Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and former Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji.

The governor was declared the winner in the early hours of Sunday by the Returning Officer for the election, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, at the INEC Collation Centre in Osogbo, following the collation of results from the state’s 30 local government areas.

According to the final results announced by the electoral umpire, Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to emerge victorious, while Oyebamiji secured 444,815 votes.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came a distant third with 17,180 votes.

The election featured candidates from 15 political parties, with INEC reporting that 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the poll.

On Saturday, Adeleke had expressed confidence in retaining his seat as Osun State governor after casting his vote at Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9, in Ede North Local Government Area.

While speaking to journalists after voting, the governor said he was optimistic about his chances in the keenly contested election, urging voters to remain peaceful and allow the electoral process to run its course.

Similarly, Oyebamiji also expressed confidence in victory after casting his ballot at Ward 09, Unit 011, in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area.

Oyebamiji said he was satisfied with the process at his polling unit and remained hopeful that the outcome of the election would favour him.

Adeleke’s victory is significant as it came after he abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under whose platform he won his first term in office, and joined the Accord Party in December amid an internal leadership crisis within the PDP.