I also salute the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as security agencies for toeing the path of neutrality and ensuring that the votes counted
The Osun State governorship election, which held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 has come and gone, but its result and the defeat of Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who had hoped for a second term, will have implications on the forthcoming general election scheduled for February and March, 2023.
In the result announced by the Election Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 403,371 votes to defeat Governor Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 375,027 votes.
Prof Ogundipe declared Ademola Adeleke the winner of the election. He said that apart from winning the total majority votes, the PDP and its candidate also won in the majority of the state’s local government areas. The PDP won in 17 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while the APC won in 13.
The result of the election came as a shock to many Nigerians who believed that it would be difficult to defeat an incumbent state governor in an election.
Both the PDP and APC had interpreted the result in different ways. The National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, saw his party’s victory in Osun State as an indication that the people were tired of the APC and welcoming the PDP. According to him, the PDP would follow up the victory in Osun with another victory at the presidential election in 2023.
On the other hand, National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu believed that the internal bickering within the Osun chapter of the party had cost it victory in the governorship election.
In a statement issued shortly after the announcement of the election result, penultimate Sunday, titled, ‘Osun people have spoken and Nigerians will speak too,’ Ayu said the convincing win by 403, 371 votes against Gov. Oyetola’s 375, 027 is ample proof of overwhelming support for the PDP in the state.
The statement reads in part, “Twelve years ago, specifically on November 26, 2010, the PDP lost Osun State - not through the ballot-box - but via a judicial coup (ruling).
“That coup (ruling) terminated the action-packed tenure of H.E.
Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Since then, Osun was frozen in executive misrule and underdevelopment.
“Four years ago, the PDP won the governorship election, but our candidate, Sen. Adeleke, was robbed of victory in broad daylight. We went back to the drawing-board and today, we have reclaimed our victory.
“Today is, therefore, not just a day of double restoration – it is a day of redemption, too. It restores PDP to power and redeems the Osun people from the scourge of mediocrity, empty promises and excuses.
“I congratulate the two-time winner, the tenacious Adeleke. I congratulate the good people and residents of Osun State. I hail every party stakeholder who stood with us in action, prayers and hope.
“You have kept faith with the PDP. You refused to be intimidated. You refused to be bought over with foodstuffs and 30 silver coins. You said no to thuggery and vote-fraud. You have done well.
“I thank the PDP National Campaign Council for the Osun State Governorship Election, headed by His Excellency, Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, for a superlative performance. I thank our vice presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, for his tireless work. PDP is proud of all of you.
“You have helped to return PDP to power after 12 years. You have returned hope to Osun State. But beyond this, you have renewed the quit notice on the reigning APC Federal government.
PDP first issued the quit notice in December last year when this present leadership assumed office.
“This election was a referendum on the disastrous APC stewardship, and proves conclusively that Nigerians want PDP back. And, indeed, PDP is coming!
“I also salute the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as security agencies for toeing the path of neutrality and ensuring that the votes counted.
“The task before us now is to transit from opposition to governance. This we shall do.
“With Osun done, next comes the Aso Rock Villa! We call on all PDP members and all Nigerians to join the moving PDP train. Don’t be left behind. Our next destination is Aso Villa.
“With PDP, Nigeria shall rise again. Indeed, she is already rising. Osun people have spoken. The rest of Nigeria shall speak with a resounding Voice on 25th February 2023”.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Adamu said the crisis within the APC caused the party’s defeat at the Osun poll, not that the party was not capable of winning.
He said, “We lost the race not because we are incapable, but because of the crisis within. We had a massive gathering of supporters a few days before the election in Osogbo. No one could ever anticipate that we would lose the election.
“The Osun defeat doesn’t in any way mean that we will lose at the general election. We only lost one state out of the 22 we have. You see, we are still strong. nWe will sit and check ourselves. We must ask ourselves what is right and wrong and what needs to be corrected.”
Takeaways from Osun Election
..Buhari, INEC Receive Kudos
The 2022 governorship election in Osun State has been described as one of the best elections ever conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). All local and international observers who monitored the election gave the electoral umpire kudos. Even the PDP and APC expressed the opinion that the INEC did a great job. Both parties endorsed the exercise as free, fair and credible.
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