Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) has congratulated Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election. She described the outcome of the 15th August governorship election as a triumph of democracy and the popular will of the people.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, winner of the keenly contested election after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 445,815 votes.
Reacting to the result, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the outcome demonstrated that political power ultimately belonged to the people and could not be permanently secured through political influence, intimidation or political machinery.
According to her, Osun voters stood firmly behind their preferred candidate despite what she described as intense political pressure surrounding the election.
“The people of Osun State have spoken loudly and unmistakably. They stood firm, defended their votes and demonstrated that democracy belongs to the people. No amount of political machinery, intimidation or pressure can permanently silence the voice of the electorate.”
The senator said Adeleke’s victory should be viewed beyond partisan politics, arguing that the election represented another important test of Nigeria’s democratic resilience.
She noted that Osun voters had demonstrated through their ballots their determination to protect the mandate they believed in despite the tense political atmosphere that preceded the election.
“What we witnessed in Osun is a powerful reminder that the ballot remains the strongest weapon of the ordinary citizen in a democracy. When the people are determined to protect their mandate, political calculations and structures cannot substitute for genuine popular support.”
The election was characterised by intense campaigns and political competition, with civil society groups also reporting concerns about vote-buying, intimidation and other electoral challenges.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also commended INEC for its conduct of the election and the eventual declaration of the result.
She particularly acknowledged the role of the electoral commission in managing the process, including the electronic transmission and collation of polling-unit results. INEC uploaded 3,695 results, representing 98.19 per cent of the polling-unit results, during the process.
“I commend the leadership of INEC for conducting the Osun election and for allowing the votes of the people to count. Elections are not merely about voting; they are about ensuring that the votes are properly accounted for and that the legitimate choice of the electorate is respected.”
The senator also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what she described as his allowing the people of Osun State to choose their governor freely.
