OSUN POLL VICTORY: ADELEKE EXTENDS OLIVE BRANCH, APC MULLS TRIBUNAL CHALLENGE

Governor Ademola Adeleke has appealed for peace and unity in Osun State following his re-election, while the All Progressives Congress is considering its legal options after losing Saturday’s governorship election.

Adeleke was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission after polling 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.

President Bola Tinubu congratulated Adeleke on his victory and urged him to use his second term to unite the people of Osun State and govern inclusively, regardless of their political affiliations.

Adeleke, in his victory remarks, extended an olive branch to his opponents and called for peace following weeks of political tension and pre-election violence.

He said, “In this race, there is no victor, no vanquished. I extend an olive branch to my co-contestants. I am the Governor of all Osun people.”

The governor urged community leaders and traditional institutions to promote peace and prevent post-election attacks, while appealing to residents to forgive one another and restore communal harmony.

Adeleke also promised to build on his achievements, correct his shortcomings and pursue accelerated development under his renewed five-point agenda.

Meanwhile, the APC said it was studying the results from the 332 wards across the state before deciding whether to pursue available legal options under the Electoral Act.

The party said an election process could extend through the tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, adding that it would consult its legal team before deciding its next move. It also urged its supporters to remain calm and avoid provocative actions.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also congratulated Adeleke but demanded an explanation from INEC over what it described as a nearly four-hour interruption in the uploading of polling-unit results to the IReV portal during the election.

The ADC said the delay raised questions about the electoral process but provided no evidence that INEC deliberately stopped the uploads.

ADC candidate Najeem Salaam, who came third with 17,180 votes, separately congratulated Adeleke and urged him to use his second term to address areas where his administration had fallen short, consolidate its achievements and work for the benefit of all residents.

Salaam said, “Politics is not a do-or-die affair. The people have spoken; democracy has prevailed.”