Osun Poll: ADC Candidate Congratulates Adeleke, Says Democracy Has Prevailed

Najeem Salaam, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate in the Osun State governorship election, has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, saying the outcome showed that democracy had prevailed.

Salaam, in a congratulatory message to Adeleke, said the decision of Osun voters should be respected regardless of political differences.

He said every democratic contest would produce different choices, but the ultimate responsibility was to respect the decision of the electorate.

According to Salaam, the people of Osun had exercised their constitutional right to choose their governor, and their decision deserved the support of all stakeholders.

The ADC candidate also urged Adeleke to use his second term as an opportunity to assess areas where his administration may have fallen short and improve on them.

He called on the governor to consolidate the achievements of his first term while addressing shortcomings identified during his initial tenure.

Salaam stressed that political contests should not be allowed to create divisions or threaten peace and unity in Osun State.

He described politics as a process in which there would always be winners and losers, urging contestants and their supporters to accept electoral outcomes peacefully.

The ADC candidate appealed to Adeleke to govern for all residents of the state, regardless of their political affiliations.

“Osun belongs to all of us. Beyond party lines and political differences, our collective responsibility is to build a state where every citizen can live with dignity, security and hope for a better future,” he said.

Salaam further wished Adeleke a successful second term, expressing hope that his administration would deliver greater development, peace and prosperity across the state.

He also emphasised the importance of reflection and continuous improvement in governance, saying no administration was without areas requiring correction.

“Politics is not a do-or-die affair. The people have spoken; democracy has prevailed,” Salaam said.

Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, was declared winner of the August 15 governorship poll.

He secured 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 444,815 votes.

Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.

Adeleke’s victory secured him a second term as governor of Osun State after he was first elected in 2022.

The congratulatory message from Salaam adds to a series of reactions from political figures following the declaration, with several stakeholders calling for unity and cooperation after the closely contested election.