Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has said his closest challenger in the August 15 governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), should be the one to call and congratulate him on his re-election.
Adeleke made the statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the election.
The governor secured 511,067 votes to defeat Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes, giving Adeleke a winning margin of 66,252 votes. African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes. Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
Despite his remarks about the expected congratulatory call, Adeleke extended an olive branch to Oyebamiji and other candidates, calling for unity following a highly competitive campaign.
The governor said there was “no victor, no vanquished” and promised to work towards healing the political divisions that emerged during the election period.
Adeleke said his administration would establish a reconciliation committee to help bring political stakeholders together and foster cooperation across the state.
He also reiterated his commitment to governing for all residents of Osun, regardless of their political affiliations, while pledging to build on his administration’s achievements and correct areas where it had fallen short.
The governor’s call for reconciliation comes after months of intense political campaigns and heightened rivalry between the major parties ahead of the election.
Following his victory, Adeleke said his focus would now shift from politics to governance and the development of the state.
He said his administration would continue pursuing its vision of transforming Osun from a predominantly civil service state into an industrial and investment destination.
President Bola Tinubu has also congratulated Adeleke on his re-election, describing the result as a reflection of the will of the people of Osun State.
