Osun election shows determined voters can defeat political pressure, says APM candidate

Prince Laja Adeoye, the Lagos State governorship candidate for the Allied Peoples Movement, has lauded Governor Ademola Adeleke's re-election in Osun State. Adeoye asserted that the election results demonstrate the power of a determined electorate to resist political pressure and defend their choices at the ballot box. He conveyed his congratulations to Adeleke, emphasizing that the outcome sent a clear message to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Adeoye stated that political power and financial resources cannot permanently override the will of the people. "The outcome of this election is a powerful reminder to the ruling APC that a determined people cannot be defeated," Adeoye said. "Even if all the funds in the nation’s treasury are expended, and every apparatus of the state is deployed against the will of the people, that will shall still prevail."

Adeleke, who ran on the Accord Party ticket, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, securing 511,067 votes. His closest rival, the APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, received 444,815 votes. Adeleke won in 19 of the state's 30 local government areas. This victory marks Adeleke's second term, following his initial win in 2022 under the Peoples Democratic Party. His subsequent defection to the Accord Party significantly reshaped the state's political landscape, with 25 members of the Osun State House of Assembly also moving from the PDP to Accord.

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The outcome of this election is a powerful reminder to the ruling APC that a determined people cannot be defeated. Even if all the funds in the nation’s treasury are expended, and every apparatus of the state is deployed against the will of the people, that will shall still prevail.

Adeoye's assessment comes amidst varied accounts of the election's conduct. While some reports cited vote-buying and intimidation, the Centre for Democracy and Development characterized the election as generally peaceful, noting only some operational challenges. Adeoye specifically commended the Osun electorate for remaining resolute despite what he described as heavy militarization, voter intimidation, and substantial financial deployment during the election. "The people of Osun stood firm. They defended their mandate and voted massively for the man they trust to continue leading them," he added.

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The people of Osun stood firm. They defended their mandate and voted massively for the man they trust to continue leading them.