Atiku Abubakar, former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 poll; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his running mate as well as Bukola Saraki, former Senate president, have congratulated Ademola Adeleke, Governor of Osun State, on his re-election, describing the outcome of last Saturday’s governorship poll as a victory for democracy and the will of the people.
Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord, was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) early Sunday after defeating Bola Oyebamiji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 13 others.
The governor polled 511,067 votes across the state to defeat Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
Atiku said Adeleke’s victory reflected the choice of Osun residents as expressed through the ballot.
‘I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke 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,’ Atiku said in a post on his X handle on Sunday.
He commended the people of the state for their peaceful participation in the election and wished Adeleke success in his second term. ‘I commend the people for their passion and peaceful participation. I wish Governor Adeleke continued success as he continues to serve them,’ he added.
Obi also congratulated Adeleke, saying the election demonstrated the power of citizens to determine who leads them. Obi said the people of Osun had ‘spoken with courage and clarity,’ stressing that the power to choose leaders belonged to the electorate.
He commended Osun youths for what he described as peacefully defending their democratic mandate, saying the outcome provided important lessons ahead of the 2027 general elections.
‘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.
Every genuine vote must be respected, and every lawful mandate must be protected,’ Obi said.
Similarly, Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, congratulated Adeleke on what he described as his victory in the governorship election.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and vice-presidential candidate of the NDC for the 2027 election, also hailed Adeleke, describing him as his friend. In a statement posted on his verified X account on Sunday, Kwankwaso commended Osun voters for exercising their democratic rights.
‘As a leader of the opposition and a committed democrat, I commend the people of Osun State for exercising their democratic rights and reaffirming the power of the people’s mandate,’ he said.
INEC’s State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke winner in the early hours of Sunday.
Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11. Najeem Salaam, candidate of the ADC, finished third with 17,180 votes.
The victory was particularly significant for Adeleke, who contested the election on the Accord platform after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), amid a prolonged crisis that led to the party conducting its governorship primary without him.
He subsequently secured the Accord ticket and successfully defended his mandate outside the party on which he was elected governor in 2022.