Osun Poll: APC Won’t Rush to Congratulate Adeleke — Campaign DG

The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress governorship campaign in Osun State, Oluwole Oke, has said the party will not be pressured into congratulating Governor Ademola Adeleke over his victory in the August 15 governorship election.

Oke made the statement during an interview with Arise News on Monday, explaining that the APC was still reviewing the election results and would determine its next course of action after examining the available records.

According to him, the position of President Bola Tinubu, who congratulated Adeleke after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared him winner, was separate from that of the APC campaign team, which was directly involved in monitoring the election.

Oke said the party did not agree with INEC’s declaration and believed Adeleke did not secure the highest number of valid votes.

INEC declared Adeleke the winner after he polled 511,067 votes, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes. ADC candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.

Adeleke won 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11, giving the incumbent governor a margin of 66,252 votes.

Following the declaration, Adeleke said he expected Oyebamiji to call and congratulate him, describing it as the “civilised thing to do.”

However, Oke maintained that the APC campaign team would first complete its assessment of the electoral process before making a decision.

He said the party had commenced an audit and directed its agents to submit copies of Forms EC8A, EC8B and EC8C for examination.

The APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, also said the party was studying results from all 332 wards.

Oke said the party would consult its lawyers and consider all available legal options under the Electoral Act if irregularities were established. He added that the review would cover both the pre-election period and the conduct of the election.

The campaign DG also criticised the Adeleke administration, alleging shortcomings in education, healthcare and support for farmers.

He urged the public to allow the APC sufficient time to complete its review before announcing its next course of action.