The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, describing the outcome as a victory for democracy.
The party said the result demonstrated the determination of Osun voters to defend their electoral choices despite political pressures. NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, made the remarks while reacting to the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election.
Director commended Osun residents for turning out to vote and insisting that their ballots should determine the outcome. According to him, the election showed that voters could resist what he described as attempts to suppress their democratic will.
Director said Adeleke deserved commendation for maintaining his determination to contest despite the political circumstances surrounding the election. He argued that the governor had insisted on his right to seek another term and allow voters to decide whether he deserved their mandate. The NDC spokesman also praised Osun voters for participating in the process.
He described the result as evidence that political power alone could not necessarily determine electoral outcomes when citizens were determined to exercise their franchise. Director said the development should strengthen Nigerians’ confidence in the power of the ballot.
However, the NDC spokesman criticised Adeleke’s reported decision to support President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He described the governor’s readiness to support Tinubu and deliver Osun to the President as premature.
Director questioned whether such a political commitment reflected the wishes of the people who had supported Adeleke’s re-election. He particularly pointed to the sacrifices made during the election period, including lives reportedly lost amid political tensions.
“I am surprised that Adeleke is promising to deliver Osun to President Bola Tinubu come 2027 presidential election. I think that is too hasty of him to say.”
He argued that Adeleke should allow Osun residents to independently determine whom they would support in the presidential election.
Director said the Osun election itself demonstrated the limits of political influence over voters. He argued that even the federal government’s alleged influence could not determine how Osun residents ultimately voted. According to him, the same principle should apply to the 2027 presidential election.
He therefore urged Adeleke to enjoy his re-election while allowing voters to make their own choice when the presidential contest arrives. The NDC spokesman said political leaders should not assume that winning a governorship election automatically gave them the authority to determine how citizens would vote in another election.
Director also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for its handling of the Osun election.
He, however, warned the commission against treating the election as an isolated improvement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, Nigerians would expect INEC to maintain and improve on the transparency witnessed during the Osun poll. He said the NDC would hold the electoral body accountable to the standard it had established.
Director also referred to INEC’s assurances concerning technical problems associated with electronic transmission and other electoral technologies. He said Nigerians expected the 2027 presidential election to be transparent, participatory and credible.
The NDC spokesman expressed hope that Nigeria was gradually moving towards elections where political contests would no longer be treated as matters of life and death and where citizens could have confidence that their votes would count.
