By Our Correspondent
Former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Kwankwaso described Adeleke as his friend and commended the people of Osun State for participating actively in the democratic process and reaffirming their power through the ballot.
In a congratulatory message issued on Sunday, the former Kano governor said the outcome of the election demonstrated the importance of citizens exercising their democratic rights.
According to Kwankwaso, Adeleke’s victory serves as a reminder that “the people’s will must prevail” when citizens remain committed to their civic responsibilities and make their voices heard.
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for conducting the election and urged political actors and other stakeholders to continue supporting credible, peaceful and transparent elections.
Adeleke was declared winner of the election after securing 511,067 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 444,815 votes.
The governor won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11 local government areas.
The result represents a fresh mandate for Adeleke, who contested the election under the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, the platform on which he won the governorship in 2022.
His re-election has attracted reactions from several prominent political figures, with many describing the outcome as an indication of the power of voters and an important development for Nigeria’s democracy.
Kwankwaso’s message is particularly significant as political parties and major political figures begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Beyond the political implications of the result, his statement also highlighted the importance of respecting the outcome of elections and ensuring that citizens’ choices are properly protected.
The former Kano governor urged stakeholders to remain committed to democratic principles and peaceful political engagement, stressing the need for elections to reflect the genuine choices of voters.
For Adeleke, the congratulatory messages now come with renewed expectations from the people of Osun State, who will be looking to his administration to consolidate its achievements and deliver on its promises during his second term.
The governor’s victory has also placed greater responsibility on his administration to justify the confidence reposed in it by the electorate.
As the celebrations continue, attention will gradually shift from the election itself to governance, with residents expecting the renewed administration to focus on development, economic opportunities, infrastructure and improved welfare.
For Kwankwaso, however, the central message from the Osun election remains clear: when citizens participate and their mandate is respected, democracy becomes stronger.
