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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

#OsunDecides2026: AAC candidate vows to return stronger after defeat

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Olajide Esan, the African Action Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, acknowledged his defeat in the August 15 election.
  • Esan stated his campaign focused on "the awakening of the minds and true liberation of our people" rather than just winning.
  • He vowed to return stronger, despite polling 1,458 votes and placing eighth out of 15 candidates.

Olajide Esan, the governorship candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) in Osun State, has accepted his defeat in the August 15 election, vowing to return with renewed strength. Despite not securing victory, Esan emphasized that his campaign, under the 'Irapada Osun' movement, was driven by a larger purpose: "THE AWAKENING OF THE MINDS AND TRUE LIBERATION OF OUR PEOPLE."

The Vision Outlives the Election: When we launched the IRAPADAOSUN movement under the banner of the African Action Congress (AAC), it was not based on the narrow goal of winning an election, it was based on something that is far greater: THE AWAKENING OF THE MINDS AND TRUE LIBERATION OF OUR PEOPLE.

— Olajide EsanExplaining the broader goals of his campaign beyond electoral victory.

Esan, who garnered 1,458 votes to finish eighth among 15 candidates, expressed gratitude for the support received. He criticized the pervasive influence of money in politics, asserting that such tactics would not permanently silence his movement. Esan believes that despite the challenges of "weaponized hunger, poverty and ignorance" faced by the people, the tide is turning, and the grip of oppressors is loosening.

"This is only the beginning," Esan declared in a message posted on his X handle. "We will be back stronger, better, and more steadfast in our fight to restore good governance back to the people." His campaign was supported by the party's presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, during the election period.

The monetization of politics by the moneybags won’t silence us forever. Even though our people are trapped by weaponized hunger, poverty and ignorance that have been fashioned against them, the tide is turning, and the grip that the oppressors have on the people is loosening.

— Olajide EsanAddressing the challenges of political finance and oppression in Nigeria.

The official results declared Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party as the winner, securing 511,067 votes. Adeleke won in 19 of the state's 30 local government areas, defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who received 444,815 votes. Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress came in third with 17,180 votes.

This is only the beginning, we will be back stronger, better, and more steadfast in our fight to restore good governance back to the people.

— Olajide EsanVowing future commitment to political activism and good governance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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