Atiku urges Adeleke to consolidate on second term mandate, hails Osun voters’ resolve

By Onu Okorie

Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to step into his new mandate with a renewed resolve to effect more positive changes and cause improved economic and social prosperity for the good people of Osun State.

According to Atiku, “While we congratulate Governor Adeleke for his victory at the polls, I wish to urge him to continue with the process of good governance that has earned him the affection of the people and to make Osun State a shining success that the country will be proud of. One good term is indeed deserving of another.”

Atiku congratulated Governor Adeleke and the voters of Osun State for the successful conduct of the state’s governorship election, which resulted in the re-election of the governor for a second term.

In a press statement issued by his media office, Atiku said that the outcome of the election is a reflection of the democratic wishes of the people of Osun State. He particularly expressed his satisfaction with the manner in which Osun voters came out in large numbers and resisted what he described as anti-democratic machinations aimed at undermining the electoral process.

“The outcome of last Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State is an expression of the wishes of the people, which has earned Governor Adeleke his re-election,” Atiku said.

“The lesson from the election is that the voters in Osun State have set a good example of how we must come out in large numbers in the general elections next year.

“Another important lesson from the Osun election is that it is a clear manifestation of how the collective resolve of the electorate to stand firm to protect their ballot is the best antidote to rigging, vote buying and other electoral malpractice and irregularities,” he added.

Atiku further stated that despite what he called an orchestrated plot to intimidate voters through a heavy presence of armed personnel, the outcome of the poll exposed the declining popularity of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he attributed to the policies of the Tinubu-led federal administration.

“Nigerians have roundly rejected the APC. The election in Osun State is just a telling indication that the APC will be defeated in the general election,” Atiku said, describing the outcome as “a forerunner” of the polls ahead.

“I specifically thank Governor Adeleke for mobilizing the people of Osun State to stand firm in the face of state-sponsored intimidation and for leading the way in the effort to check the APC’s dominance,” Atiku added.

The former vice president’s remarks add to a wave of reactions from opposition figures following the declaration of Adeleke’s victory by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with observers describing the Osun poll as a key indicator of shifting political sentiment ahead of the next general elections.