The spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to a credible governorship election in Osun State, saying the President congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally declared him winner.
Olajengbesi spoke on Sunday shortly after the State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke the winner of the August 15 governorship election at the INEC headquarters in Osogbo.
According to him, Tinubu called Adeleke to congratulate him on his victory before the official announcement of the result.
Olajengbesi described the outcome as a reflection of the will of Osun voters, adding that the electorate had renewed Adeleke’s mandate based on his performance in office.
“I am super excited. This is the manifestation of God and the will of the people of Osun State. This election has clearly shown that Governor Ademola Adeleke is the man of the people, and it shows that Mr Governor has performed excellently,” he said.
“The people of Osun have renewed his mandate. Despite all the intimidation, harassment and reckless use of power by all institutions, Mr Governor emerged victorious.”
The campaign spokesperson also commended Osun voters for standing by Adeleke despite what he described as pressure and attempts to persuade them to abandon the governor.
He recalled that the Imole Campaign Council had raised security concerns ahead of the election and petitioned the British High Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, seeking measures to ensure a free, fair and credible poll.
The council later welcomed President Tinubu’s directive to the police and other security agencies to maintain professionalism and neutrality during the election, describing the directive as important to protecting voters and the integrity of the electoral process.
Olajengbesi further said Adeleke had instructed his supporters before the election to shun vote-buying and allow voters to freely exercise their franchise.
INEC declared Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, winner after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third.
The election, however, has been followed by allegations of vote-buying and other electoral offences. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate reported cases of vote-buying, financial inducement, illegal election financing, voter intimidation, violence and other alleged infractions linked to the poll.
