Osun poll: Tinubu’s restraint helped Adeleke win, says Accord Party chieftain

Prof Chris Imumolen, a former Accord Party presidential candidate, has criticized the assertion that President Bola Tinubu played no role in Governor Ademola Adeleke's Osun governorship election victory, describing it as "ungrateful and pretentious." Imumolen emphasized that reducing Tinubu's role to merely campaigning for Adeleke or providing financial and political support overlooks the President's democratic restraint before and during the election.

He argued that Tinubu's neutrality and refusal to deploy state power against an opponent were crucial in providing a credible electoral environment. Tinubu's decision not to turn the election into a personal battle between the Federal Government and the Osun governor contributed to an atmosphere where voters could make their choices without federal intimidation.

Imumolen noted that this conduct was particularly noteworthy given the involvement of Tinubu's own party in the fiercely contested election. He stressed that the president's decision not to use every available instrument at his disposal against Adeleke, despite the latter contesting against his party, demonstrated statesmanship and democratic disposition.