Published on July 17, 2022 By Ochogwu Sunday.
Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC is yet to congratulate Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the just concluded governorship election.
It was earlier reported that the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, returning officer for the Osun governorship election, Prof, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe on Sunday morning, declared Ademola Adeleke winner of the exercise.
Adeleke, a former federal lawmaker emerged the winner of the governorship election with 403,371 votes.
The electoral body confirmed that Adeleke garnered the highest vote to win his major contender, Gboyega Oyetola who also pulled 375,027 votes.
DAILY POST observed that the exercise was relatively free and fair as there were just a few cases of violence and vote buying unlike previous elections held across the country.
Recall that Oyetola and Adeleke had battled for the top political position in the state in 2018 with Adeleke who believes his mandate was stolen, defeated by the current incumbent governor.
The 2022 Osun governorship election which commenced early hours of Saturday, had the presence of several top politicians, particularly from the two major parties, PDP and the ruling APC to witness the voting processes.
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and other party stalwarts were in Osun to monitor the exercise.
Similarly, the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other stakeholders of the ruling party were on ground to ensure victory for the incumbent governor, Oyetola.
However, as results from polling units began to arrive, Tinubu who reportedly predicted the outcome of the election, fled to the nation’s capital, Abuja amid collations.
It was, however, gathered that the APC National Leader met with House of Assembly Speakers from the party on Saturday night in Abuja.
At the meeting with the speakers, it was learnt that Tinubu promised the lawmakers active roles in his campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections
Speaking with DAILY POST on the emergence of Adeleke as Osun’s Governor-elect, a public affairs analyst, Mr John Odeikwu said the ruling party may drag Adeleke to court.
He, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and INEC for the credible election.
He said, “Nigerians are happy over the outcome of the Osun election. Not really because Adeleke is too good but for the fact that it is possible to unseat a ruling party.
“I know for sure, the election will be challenged in court but Nigerians especially Osun people have decided. Nothing you can do about that.
“Sometimes I wonder who President Buhari is, does that man really mean bad for the country? In my best knowledge, he has never interfered in any election. He allows people to choose and that always reminds me of his words, “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”.
As of the time of filing this report, APC is yet to accept or reject the outcome of the just concluded Osun election.
Daily Post.
