…Urges all political actors to accept the result and contribute to the stability and development of the state
SUN AUG 16 2026-theGBJournal| President Bola Tinubu has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election in Osun State as a positive signal for Nigeria’s democratic development, saying the outcome demonstrates that the country’s electoral system can reflect the will of voters.
In a statement issued on Sunday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said he had called Governor Adeleke to congratulate him on his victory, arguing that the result confirmed the confidence Osun voters had placed in the governor.
The president’s response is politically notable given that Adeleke, a member of the opposition Accord Party, secured a fresh mandate in a state where the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has maintained a strong political presence.
President Tinubu said the election outcome provided “a fitting assurance” that democracy would continue to flourish under his administration.
The President also urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to bridge political divisions in the state, calling on him to unite Osun residents and pursue growth, stability and social and economic progress irrespective of how they voted.
“Now that he has won, Governor Adeleke must unite the people of Osun State and rally them for growth, stability, and social and economic progress,” the president said.
The president praised the other candidates who contested the election, saying their participation had strengthened Nigeria’s democratic culture.
He said the result represented the choice of the electorate and commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for overseeing what he described as a peaceful and transparent election that produced a clear winner.
President Tinubu’s comments come at a politically significant moment for Nigeria, where the credibility of elections and the conduct of political actors remain central to debates about the country’s democratic consolidation.
By publicly endorsing the outcome of a state election won by an opposition governor, the president sought to cast the Osun result as evidence of institutional resilience and voter sovereignty, rather than simply a contest between rival political parties.
The immediate challenge now for the governor shifts from securing a second term at the ballot box to converting the mandate into broader political legitimacy and tangible economic and social gains for Osun people.
The governor’s re-election also leaves the state’s political balance under continued scrutiny ahead of Nigeria’s wider electoral cycle, with the outcome likely to shape calculations among the major parties as they position themselves for future contests.
President Tinubu said he wished Governor Adeleke success over the next four years, while urging all political actors to accept the result and contribute to the stability and development of the state.
By Charles Ike-Okoh
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