Adeleke’s victory has answered the critics, strengthened Nigeria’s democracy and challenged governors to allow the people’s mandate to prevail
The people of Osun State have spoken—and they have spoken loudly.
In an election that attracted significant political attention because of its implications for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the influence of the Presidency and Nigeria’s democratic future, Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has emerged victorious over the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The final results showed Adeleke winning 19 of Osun State’s 30 Local Government Areas, while Oyebamiji won 11. Adeleke polled 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,811, giving the Accord candidate a decisive margin of 66,256 votes.
This is more than an election result. It is a powerful democratic statement.
It is also a moment to pause and reflect on what the election says about Nigeria’s democracy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Before the election, there were concerns in some quarters that an opposition candidate could not defeat the ruling party in Osun because of the state’s political significance to the President and the wider Yoruba political establishment.
Others believed that the influence of the Federal Government and the APC political structure would inevitably produce an APC victory.
But democracy has now spoken.
The people voted. The votes were counted and collated. An opposition candidate won. And the world witnessed it.
For me, this is one of the most significant aspects of the Osun election.
President Tinubu has demonstrated that being President does not necessarily mean that every election under his watch must be won by his political party.
That is an important distinction.
A President does not become weaker because an opposition party wins an election. On the contrary, when the electoral process is allowed to function and citizens are permitted to freely choose their leaders, it demonstrates confidence in democracy and the institutions of the Nigerian state.
THE PRESIDENT’S BIGGEST VICTORY MAY NOT BE APC’S VICTORY
Politics is often measured in terms of victories and defeats. One party wins, another loses, and both sides analyse the outcome.
But there is a greater victory than partisan victory—the victory of democracy.
President Tinubu’s most significant gain from the Osun election should therefore not be measured solely by whether APC won or lost. It should be measured by whether the people were allowed to determine who would govern them.
The answer, based on the declared result, is clear: an opposition candidate has won.
That alone should send a powerful message to those who doubted whether such an outcome was possible.
OSUN HAS DISPROVED THE POLITICAL PROPHECIES OF DOOM
Some predictions surrounding the election were based on the assumption that political power must automatically translate into electoral victory.
But democracy does not work that way.
The people may attend rallies, listen to politicians, collect campaign materials and publicly support candidates. But when they enter the polling booth, the final decision belongs to them.
That is the beauty of democracy.
Osun has reminded us that political influence cannot permanently substitute for popular acceptance.
The electorate can surprise the most powerful political strategists. They can reject the most heavily mobilised political structure. They can choose a candidate whom the political establishment does not expect to win.
And when that happens, democracy has spoken.
PRESIDENT TINUBU SHOULD TAKE A BOW FOR THIS MOMENT
I therefore commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allowing the democratic process to unfold.
This commendation does not mean that every aspect of the election was perfect. Reports of operational challenges, allegations of vote-buying, violence and other electoral infractions must be properly investigated wherever credible complaints exist.
However, those imperfections should not obscure the larger democratic lesson.
The fundamental question is whether citizens were able to vote and whether their votes ultimately determined the outcome.
In Osun, the opposition has won.
That should be recognised as a positive development for Nigerian democracy.
THE YORUBA PEOPLE ARE NOT A POLITICAL MONOLITH
Another important lesson must not be lost: being Yoruba does not mean belonging to one political party.
Being from the same region as a political leader does not mean voters must support that leader’s party.
The Yoruba political space has always been politically sophisticated, intellectually vibrant and fiercely democratic. Our history is filled with political actors who disagreed passionately but understood that political disagreement is part of democratic life.
Nobody should therefore suggest that because Osun is a Yoruba state, its people must automatically vote for the party of a Yoruba President.
Yoruba people are citizens before they are partisan supporters.
Their votes belong to them. Their conscience belongs to them. Their political choices belong to them.
Osun has demonstrated that reality.
ADELEKE’S VICTORY IS ALSO A MESSAGE TO APC
The victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke should equally serve as a lesson to the APC.
It is not enough to possess a powerful national structure. It is not enough to have governors, ministers, legislators and political heavyweights campaigning for a candidate.
Ultimately, the electorate decides.
The APC candidate won 11 LGAs and performed strongly in several areas, showing that the contest was competitive. However, Adeleke’s victory in 19 LGAs and his 66,256-vote statewide margin ultimately settled the contest in his favour.
The response should therefore not be bitterness, but reflection.
Where did APC lose the confidence of enough voters?
What did the people want that they did not see?
What lessons can the party learn before the next election?
That is how a mature political party should respond to electoral defeat.
THE PEOPLE HAVE ALSO SENT A MESSAGE TO GOVERNORS
Perhaps the most important lesson from Osun is directed at Nigeria’s state governors.
If the Federal Government can preside over a political environment in which an opposition party wins a strategically important governorship election, governors should also have the confidence to allow genuine political competition at the grassroots.
This is particularly important regarding State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
For years, Nigerians have expressed concerns about the credibility and independence of many local government elections conducted by SIECs. In several states, there is a widespread perception that the ruling party enters such elections with an almost guaranteed advantage.
That perception is unhealthy for democracy.
Local government elections should not be treated as political coronations.
They should be genuine contests.
Let opposition parties campaign.
Let candidates debate.
Let voters make their choices.
Let ballot boxes be protected.
Let results be transparently announced.
Most importantly, LET THE PEOPLE’S VOTES COUNT.
A governor who is confident in his administration should not be afraid of an opposition local government chairman.
A governor who believes his party has performed well should not fear an opposition councillor.
If the people choose the ruling party, so be it. If they choose the opposition, so be it.
That is democracy.
The true test of leadership is not whether you can prevent your opponents from winning. It is whether you can allow them to win when the people choose them.
Political power should be strong enough to accept defeat.
FROM OSUN TO OGUN AND BEYOND
As someone writing from Abeokuta South Local Government, Ward 5, I believe this lesson is particularly relevant to Ogun State.
Our democracy must not end at the national and state levels. It must penetrate the wards, polling units, communities and local governments.
People at the grassroots must feel that their votes have meaning.
A voter should not walk into a polling unit believing that the outcome has already been predetermined.
That is how political apathy grows.
That is how citizens lose confidence in democracy.
And that is how democracy becomes an empty ritual.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SET A STANDARD
President Tinubu now has an opportunity to make the Osun experience part of his democratic legacy.
He should continue to encourage the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen electoral credibility, encourage political actors to accept legitimate outcomes and, perhaps most importantly, encourage state governors and SIECs to embrace genuine competition in local government elections.
The message should be simple:
No political party should be guaranteed victory before the people vote. Let the people decide.
IN OSUN, THE REAL WINNER IS DEMOCRACY
Accord supporters are celebrating. APC supporters are disappointed.
That is normal.
But beyond party colours, Nigeria should celebrate something bigger.
An incumbent governor was challenged.
The ruling party contested.
An opposition party won.
And the people exercised their sovereign democratic power.
That is what democracy is supposed to look like.
The election also reminds us that no political office is the private property of any individual or political party.
Power belongs to the people.
They lend it to politicians through elections, and they retain the constitutional right to take it back.
I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke on his victory. I congratulate the people of Osun State for making their voices heard. I also congratulate all political parties and candidates who participated in the contest.
I commend INEC, security agencies, observers, journalists and other stakeholders who contributed to the electoral process.
And I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allowing democracy to have its way.
Mr President, your critics may have expected you to demonstrate political strength by ensuring that your party won.
But perhaps you have demonstrated something more profound: political strength is not the ability to control every outcome; it is the confidence to allow the people to determine the outcome.
That is statesmanship.
A CHALLENGE TO EVERY GOVERNOR
To every governor in Nigeria, particularly those who will conduct local government elections through SIECs, I say:
Borrow a leaf from Osun.
Do not be afraid of opposition.
Do not be afraid of independent-minded voters.
Do not be afraid of genuine competition.
Do not turn local government elections into appointments disguised as elections.
Let candidates compete.
Let citizens choose.
Let votes be counted.
Let results be announced transparently.
And when the people speak, respect their voice.
Tomorrow, the same people may choose you. The day after tomorrow, they may choose someone else.
That is the price—and the beauty—of democracy.
POWER IS TEMPORARY.
OFFICE IS TEMPORARY.
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE TEMPORARY.
BUT THE PEOPLE’S MANDATE IS SACRED.
Osun has spoken.
The people have chosen.
And Nigeria must listen.
LET THE PEOPLE CHOOSE.
LET THE VOTES COUNT.
LET DEMOCRACY WIN.
✍🏽 Chief Olalekan A. Shoyinka (Ayinla Egba)
Convener, United Premier Movement (UPM)
Writes from Abeokuta South Local Government, Ward 5
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