President Bola Tinubu has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to use his victory in the August 15 governorship election to promote reconciliation and unity in the state, stressing that winning an election does not amount to conquering political opponents.
Tinubu gave the charge on Thursday when Adeleke visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, five days after securing a second term in the Osun governorship election.
The President told Adeleke to expand his political reach and reconcile with those who opposed him during the election, urging him not to stigmatise his opponents.
“You did not conquer anybody; you won the election. That is the essence of democracy,” Tinubu told the governor.
He urged Adeleke to use his victory to strengthen peace, stability and unity in Osun, saying the governor was in a unique position to make history by bringing the people together after the election.
“All for reconciliation, expand your coast. Don’t stigmatise your opponents. You did not conquer anybody; you won the election. That is the essence of democracy,” the President said.
Tinubu urged Adeleke to focus on governance and the welfare of the people of Osun, stressing the importance of delivering infrastructure, quality education, healthcare and other services to residents.
Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, had defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to secure a second term.
He was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji scored 444,815 votes, giving the incumbent a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while the APC candidate won 11.
Speaking with State House correspondents after his closed-door meeting with Tinubu, Adeleke said his visit was principally to thank the President for allowing the will of the people to prevail in the election.
The governor described Tinubu as the “father of the nation” and attributed the conduct of what he described as a free and fair election to the President’s commitment to democracy.
“Yeah, that is why I’m here to thank Mr. President, the father of the nation, because he fought for this democracy.
“That is why he allowed free and fair election, and that is the result. That is why I’m here, to say thank you to ensure that democracy lives in Nigeria,” Adeleke said.
Adeleke’s commendation came despite the fact that his closest challenger contested on the platform of the ruling APC.
The governor’s victory also attracted attention because he sought re-election on the platform of the Accord Party, having won his first term in 2022 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ahead of the election, the Osun PDP had adopted Adeleke’s candidature and directed its structures and supporters to back his re-election on the Accord platform.
The outcome consequently strengthened Adeleke’s political standing in the state and reshaped its political configuration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Thursday’s meeting also came against the backdrop of repeated assurances by Tinubu that his administration would not interfere with the electoral process and that INEC and security agencies would be allowed to discharge their responsibilities.
The President had, ahead of the Osun poll, urged residents to exercise their franchise peacefully and charged electoral and security agencies to protect voters, election officials and materials while maintaining neutrality.
Adeleke’s remarks came on the same day Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, cited the Osun election as evidence of Tinubu’s democratic credentials.
Akume, while speaking during a visit to the headquarters of the City Boy Movement in Abuja, said Tinubu deliberately refrained from interfering in the election despite the participation of the ruling APC.
“The President never bothered to intervene in the electoral process that was recently concluded in Osun State. That is what democracy should be about. It is way better than what used to happen in the past,” the SGF said.
