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Bala Mohammed, Abiodun, Bamidele, Others Hail Adeleke’s Victory, Call For Unity In Osun
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has commended President Bola Tinubu for allowing voters to determine the outcome of the Osun State governorship election.
Mohammed said the election showed that politicians could no longer rely on the federal government to secure electoral victories.
He spoke on Monday at his Yelwan Duguri polling unit after casting his ballot during Bauchi State’s local council election.
“You cannot sit at home and assume that the federal government will give you the advantage to win an election. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is demonstrating that he is a democrat,” he said.
“You have seen what happened in Osun State, where the people voted and their votes counted. People should, therefore, understand that nobody is coming to install them. This is not a monarchy; this is democratic governance.”
Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, also congratulated Adeleke on his re-election.
Abiodun described the result as a reflection of the choice of Osun voters and said the election demonstrated the strength and resilience of Nigeria’s democracy.
He commended voters for their peaceful conduct before, during and after the poll and called on political actors to put the peace, unity and development of Osun above partisan interests.
The governor also praised Tinubu for providing what he described as a level playing field for the participating parties and candidates.
He said the president’s commitment to democratic values and the independence of the electoral process had strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, urged all candidates to accept and respect the outcome of the election.
Bamidele specifically called on the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to congratulate Adeleke and offer policy ideas that could improve governance in Osun.
“Now that the people of Osun State have spoken, all contestants must accept and respect the decision of the majority,” he said.
He described the electorate as “the true and ultimate arbiter of every democracy”.
Bamidele said the result also offered lessons for the APC ahead of the 2027 general election, particularly on strengthening its campaign strategy and engagement with voters.
He said Adeleke now had a greater responsibility to reunite Osun residents across political divides and run an inclusive administration.
National Chairman of Accord, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, said Adeleke’s victory offered hope that democracy could deliver better outcomes for Nigerians.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, Mgbudem said the result reflected the people’s determination to freely choose their governor and protect their votes.
He, however, alleged that the election period was marked by harassment, intimidation, arrests, detention, killings and the use of federal agencies against Accord and its supporters.
Mgbudem also called for the immediate release of Accord leaders, candidates, members and supporters detained in Abuja, Nasarawa and Osun states.
Former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, congratulated Adeleke and urged him to use his renewed mandate to unite the state and govern with fairness.
Aregbesola also commended Osun voters for their participation and political maturity.
He called on Adeleke to extend a hand of fellowship to political groups across the state.
“Now that the people of Osun have spoken through the ballot, their decision must be respected. I therefore extend my best wishes to Governor Adeleke as he prepares to commence another term in office,” Aregbesola said.
ADC governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, also called for unity beyond political affiliations.
Salaam said the electorate’s choice must prevail in a democracy and urged stakeholders to support the outcome.
“At the end of the day, the choice of the people must prevail. In any democratic process, there will always be choices, contestation, and differing views, but what matters most is that the people are given the opportunity to decide,” he said.
Former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Olabode George, described the result as an affirmation of the power of the people.
George congratulated Adeleke and said the peaceful outcome should serve as an example ahead of the 2027 general election.
He urged political actors and institutions to respect the wishes of voters and ensure Nigerians can freely choose their leaders.
“Governor Adeleke worked, and the people have expressed their judgment through the ballot. Today, we can see that there is peace across the state because the electoral process has been allowed to run its course,” George said.
He also appealed to Tinubu to uphold the principle that qualified Nigerians should be allowed to contest elections and that voters should be allowed to decide who leads them.
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