ADC congratulates Adeleke on Osun governorship election victory

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has extended its congratulations to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his triumph in Saturday's governorship election, hailing it as a victory for democracy and the people. In a statement released on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party stated that Adeleke's win was secured despite what it termed intimidation and the extensive use of government resources by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ADC commended opposition parties and their supporters for uniting to defeat what it called the APC's authoritarian rule. The party emphasized that the election demonstrated that voters could still resist pressure and elect their preferred candidate through the ballot box. The ADC claimed that over 30 state governors, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, lawmakers, and other high-ranking government officials were mobilized to Osun to back the APC during the election.

They asserted that the intense security presence and alleged occurrences of violence, arrests, and intimidation did not deter voters from participating. The ADC warned that the election result upload suspension on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) was concerning, alleging that INEC was directed to halt uploads around 8 PM on Saturday as it became evident that the APC was losing.

The party demanded a full explanation from INEC regarding the incident. The ADC also alleged potential interference during the election, urging a thorough investigation. They cautioned that such occurrences could foreshadow what Nigerians might encounter in the 2027 general elections. The ADC emphasized that government power could not determine how people voted, asserting that even if Osun provides a lesson this weekend, it remains clear: "A government may deploy power everywhere, but it cannot deploy it inside the ballot booth."