*Extends Olive Branch To Other Contestants, Says No Victor, No Vanquished

THERE was jubilation in several parts of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, as well as Ede, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, August 15, declared Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election.

    Following the official announcement of the outcome by INEC, supporters and residents, who had gathered at the INEC office as early as 5.00a.m., danced at the Commission’s main entrance shortly after the declaration and trooped out in large numbers to celebrate Adeleke’s victory.

    Many of them rode in motorcycles and drove around the town, singing victory songs and celebrating the result of the election.

    Adeleke of Accord Party (AP) was declared winner, having polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 444,815 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came a distant third with 17,180 votes.

    The INEC Returning Officer, Joshua Ogunwole, a professor and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, who declared the results at the INEC collation centre, said the total number of votes cast to 1,005,800, with total valid votes cast at 985,079 and 20,721 votes rejected.

     “For that, Adeleke Ademola Jackson of the Accord Party, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is hereby returned elected,” Ogunwole declared.

    The incumbent governor won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji was victorious in 11 local government areas.

    In his reaction, Adeleke extended the olive branch to his opponents, urging them to work with his administration for the good of the people.

    In his address to the people of the state, shortly after he was declared winner, the governor stated: “Osun State is on the march again. We shall expand development and widen the net of good governance. In this race, there is no victor and no vanquished.

    “I extend my olive branch to my co-contestants. I am the governor of all Osun people. My vision is to take Osun from a civil service state to an industrial state and an investment destination.

    “Congratulations to Osun people and to all supporters of good governance.”

  Reiterating his deep faith in democracy, paid tribute to those who supported his bid for another term in office, noting: ““I am deeply humbled and grateful to God and the good people of Osun State for the confidence reposed in me to serve for another term.

    “This victory belongs to the people. I commend your resilience, your courage and your unwavering commitment to democracy. I will not disappoint you.

    “As we turn the page on the election, I appeal to all Osun people to embrace peace, forgiveness and unity. There is no victor, no vanquished.

    “I extend the olive branch to all my co-contestants. I am the Governor of all. I also remember, with a minute of silence, the victims of the needless pre-election violence. May their souls rest in peace.

    “I urge our traditional rulers, community leaders and all stakeholders to lead the healing and reconciliation process across our communities.

    “To the people of Osun, you have entrusted me with another four years. I will reinforce our strong points, correct our shortcomings and build on the progress we have made. Osun is on the march again.     

    “We will accelerate development, widen the net of good governance and continue our journey to transform Osun from a civil service state into an industrial state and a preferred investment destination.

    “I thank Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his support for a free and fair election.

    “Mr. President is a son of Osun State, and I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

    “I also appreciate all lovers of democracy, at home and abroad, and especially the media for standing firmly with democracy.”

    Adeleke was first elected as governor in 2022 under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He dumped the party in December last year following the lingering internal crisis in the party to actualise his second term ambition, saying: “We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare.

    “Since I joined, I have been fascinated by the philosophy of this great party. The primary essence of a government is the welfare and well-being of the people.”

    Recall that a few days to the election, the state’s bank account was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), thereby further raising tension until Tinubu intervened and directed the anti-graft agency to unfreeze the account, saying the timing was embarrassing.