The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election in last Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, describing the outcome as a victory for democracy and the people of the state. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the Osun election demonstrated that voters could resist what he described as “tyranny,” “civilian dictatorship” and attempts to suppress their will through the electoral process.
Director commended Osun residents for participating in the election and insisting that their votes should count. He said the result was significant because it showed that federal power could not determine an election when voters remained determined to exercise their democratic rights. The NDC spokesman said, “The victory of the Accord Party in the Osun State governorship election is a victory for democracy. It is a triumph of the people’s will over any authoritarian leadership.
“It is a befitting crowning of the dogged efforts of the great people of Osun who resisted tyranny, who resisted civilian dictatorship, who resisted oppression and refused to be silenced and insisted that their vote must count.”
Director also commended Adeleke for maintaining his decision to seek re-election, saying the governor insisted that he had the right to contest and allow voters to determine his fate.
“I commend Governor Adeleke for standing firm to insist that he has the right to contest and be voted for by his people if that is their choice, and indeed, that is actually their choice and became their choice,” he said.
However, the NDC spokesman faulted Adeleke’s reported readiness to support President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election by delivering Osun State to him. Director described the position as premature and reflective of what he called the interests of political elites.
“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.
Director questioned whether such an endorsement reflected the sacrifices made by people who supported Adeleke’s re-election, including those he said lost their lives during the struggle surrounding the election. He urged Adeleke to allow Osun voters to determine their preferred presidential candidate in 2027, arguing that the Osun election itself demonstrated the limits of political control.
The NDC also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the election but cautioned against treating the outcome as an isolated improvement ahead of 2027. Director said the party would hold INEC to the standard established by the poll and urged the commission to sustain the transparency witnessed during the exercise.
“I hope this is not going to be a flash in the pan on the part of INEC to make us lose our guards and think that come 2027 it will be this transparent.
“We are going to hold them to account to live up to this standard,” he said. He added that Nigerians expected the 2027 presidential election to be transparent, participatory and credible.
