Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on his re-election, calling the outcome of the August 15 governorship poll a victory for democracy and for the will of ordinary voters over political machinery.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, winner of the closely fought contest, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in a field of 15 candidates. The Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, announced the final result after INEC’s electronic results portal recorded thousands of polling-unit collations throughout the process.
In her reaction, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the result showed that political power cannot be permanently secured through intimidation or party structures, insisting that Osun voters stood firm despite intense pressure surrounding the election.
“The people of Osun State have spoken loudly and unmistakably,” she said, adding that no amount of political machinery or intimidation could silence the electorate. She described the ballot as the strongest tool available to ordinary citizens, and said the result should be read as a broader test of Nigeria’s democratic resilience rather than a purely partisan outcome.
The election took place against a backdrop of heated campaigning, political realignments and heightened security concerns, with civil society groups had earlier raised alarms over vote-buying risks and called for security agencies to remain neutral.
The Kogi senator commended INEC for what she called a credible conduct of the poll, crediting the commission with ensuring votes cast by Osun residents were properly collated and declared. She also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had urged Osun voters ahead of the election to vote freely and without fear, for allowing the process to proceed without undue interference.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves commendation for allowing democracy to take its course in Osun State,” she said, noting that this stance mattered given the scale of political interest riding on the outcome.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also acknowledged the contribution of Afrobeats star Davido, Governor Adeleke’s nephew, who chaired the Imole Youth Campaign Team and paused his music career to campaign for his uncle. On election day, Davido had publicly complained that soldiers attempted to block him from entering Osun State, a claim he said infringed on his right to freedom of movement.
The senator described his involvement as a display of personal conviction and family loyalty within a democratic process, regardless of one’s political leanings.
Akpoti-Uduaghan framed the Osun result as a cautionary lesson for politicians nationwide ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that voters are increasingly able to distinguish between campaign promises and actual governance performance.
“The Osun election has once again demonstrated that the people remember,” she said. “Political power is temporary, but the impact of good governance remains in the hearts of the people.”
She closed her remarks by congratulating Adeleke and the people of Osun State, urging the governor to treat his renewed mandate as a fresh call to serve every resident of the state.
“To every politician, there is a simple lesson from Osun: if you are a politician, let your works speak for you.”
