In a keenly contested Osun State gubernatorial election, results of which were announced early hours of today, Mr Adeleke Jackson Nurudeen of Peoples’ Democratic Party(PDP), who is also the younger brother of late Isiaka Adeleke had been declared winner beating the incumbent Governor, Oyetola of All Progressive Congress(APC).
As an incumbent Governor, many believed Oyetola with the backing of his political god-father would be returned to office with a landslide victory. But the internal wrangling and rivalries within the APC made the political pendulum to swing in favour of the popular ‘dancing’ Governor-elect.
The election which was held in 3,763 polling units of the total 332 wards which culminated into the 30 Local governments of Osun State saw Senator Jackson Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke clinching victory in 17 of the 30 Local governments in the State.
A look at INEC’s official results showed Adeleke Ademola tops all the results in the following local governments: Ede South, Ifelodun, Boluwaduro, Egbedore, Odo Otin, Osogbo, Ila, Atakumosa West, Olorunda, Ilesa West, Obokun, Oriade, Orolu, Ife North, Irepodun and Ejigbo.
Total number of votes cast that secured the victory for Ademola Adeleke stood at 403, 371.
The closest rival, which happens to be incumbent Governor, Oyetola of All Progressive Congress, won elections in the remaining 13 local governments. These local governments are: Boripe, Ilesa East, Ayedire, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Ayedaade, Iwo, Olaoluwa, Isokan, Atakumosa East, Ife South, Ife Central and Ife East. The total number of votes secured by Oyetola stood at 375,027.
The result of the election was first confirmed by the returning Officer for Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) Osun State, Prof. Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, the Vice chancellor of the University of Lagos. INEC State Commissioner later confirmed this result after the collation around 5:30am this morning.
As soon as Adeleke was declared the Governor-Elect, the whole city of Osogbo and other prominent towns went agog with jubilation. As it would be expected, congratulatory messages stated coming in while some individuals became poetics and indirect in their messages on the outcome of the election.
One of the messages or reactions came from Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, the present minster of Interior and former governor of the state. Aregbesola on his twitter account went poetic in his choice pf his words, he quoted from Christians holy writ, Bible, where he affirmed ‘the matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the words of the holy One to the intent that the living may know that the Most high ruleth in the kingdom of men…’
For those who are in the know, this may be an indirect indictment directed at his Political Godfather whom he felt had assumed the position of all-knowing and infallible. It is no longer a secret that the relationship between APC leader, Asiwaju Tinubu and Aregbesola had gone south over the last few months.
Aregbesola’s outburst against his political godfather was an indication of his displeasure before and immediately after the state’s party primary which produced Oyetola. Aregbesola had a preferred candidate whom he believed will perform better in the office that Oyetola. But as Nigeria Grassroot News gathered, this notion was not supported by Asiwaju Timubu
But beside Aregbesola’s tacit outburst, many other reactions to the victory of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples’ Democratic Party(PDP) were to praise the winner and the people of Osun State for such a determination to produce a fresh lease of life in Osun governance structure,
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential hopeful and PDP flag bearer for the said ‘Congratulations Senator Adeleke on a well-fought victory and also hearty congratulations to @officialPDP family”
Aminu Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto state on the other hand said “The good people of Osun State had spoken loud and clearl that politics is local. I want to congratulate my brother Senator Adeleke on his victory…”
Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP Vice President hopeful on the other hand said “I want to congratulate the people of Osun State and my brother Senator Ademola Adeleke… for a decisive victory at yesterday’s poll”.
Amidst the joy in the city, there were shout of ‘Imole de’, light has come which is a popular slogan associated with Senator Adeleke Ademola’s campaign.
