The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election in the Osun State governorship election, describing the outcome as a victory for democracy and the will of the people.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the election demonstrated that voters could resist attempts to suppress their democratic choices, insisting that Adeleke’s victory showed that federal power alone could not determine electoral outcomes.
Director commended the people of Osun for turning out to vote and for insisting that their votes must count. He also praised Adeleke for standing firm in his decision to seek re-election.
However, the NDC spokesperson criticised Adeleke’s declaration that he would support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and work to deliver Osun to him.
According to Director, the governor’s pledge was premature and reflected what he described as the interests of the political elite.
“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 said.
He questioned whether such a commitment adequately reflected the sacrifices made by those who supported Adeleke’s re-election, particularly those who lost their lives during the electoral struggle.
Director urged Adeleke to allow the people of Osun to freely decide who they would support in the 2027 presidential election, noting that even the alleged deployment of federal influence could not dictate the outcome of the governorship poll.
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the election but warned the commission not to treat the improvements recorded in Osun as a one-off development.
The NDC spokesman said the party would hold INEC to the standard it had set in Osun and urged the commission to sustain transparency and credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He added that Nigerians expected the 2027 presidential election to be transparent, participatory and credible, saying the country was gradually moving towards an electoral system where votes genuinely count.