Aug 17, 2026

Osun Voters Defy APC Governors, Cash and Thugs to Re-elect Adeleke

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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Osogbo / Lagos – August 17, 2026 — The people of Osun State have delivered a powerful message to Nigeria’s political class, successfully resisting what one commentator described as a full-scale “siege” by the All Progressives Congress and re-electing Governor Ademola Adeleke in Saturday’s governorship election.

Political commentator and activist Babatunde Gbadamosi praised the electorate for standing firm against what he called an overwhelming deployment of political machinery.

In a widely shared post, he noted that the roughly five million people of Osun withstood “a siege of 27 APC governors, their cash, police and massive hordes of thugs imported into their state for the election.”

“The 5m good people of Osun State have proved that Nigerians can defeat the APC in elections,” Gbadamosi wrote.

He argued that the outcome should serve as a clear lesson ahead of the 2027 general elections, when the ruling party will face a far larger and more diverse national electorate.

How Adeleke Secured Victory

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, the winner after he polled 511,067 votes.

His closest challenger, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, scored 444,815 votes. Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.

The election took place against a backdrop of intense campaigning, allegations of intimidation, and a heavy presence of security personnel.

Several APC governors and senior party leaders had traveled to the state in the days leading up to the poll to support Oyebamiji.

After the results became clear, videos emerged of residents chanting “Ole!” (thieves) at departing APC convoys leaving Osogbo.

Reactions and the Road to 2027

Gbadamosi’s comments form part of a broader wave of analysis linking the Osun result to next year’s national contest.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the poll as “a forerunner of the 2027 general elections,” while other opposition figures and parties hailed the determination of Osun voters to protect their ballots.

Adeleke himself, in his victory remarks, extended an olive branch and reaffirmed his earlier endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027, describing the President as a “son of Osun.”

The APC, for its part, said it was studying the results and considering its options, including a possible legal challenge.

A Test of Voter Resolve

Beyond the immediate numbers, the election has been widely interpreted as a test of whether determined voters can overcome superior political resources, financial influence and institutional pressure.

Gbadamosi specifically urged citizens, particularly in Lagos, to remain vigilant from the polling units through to final collation so that the true will of the people is reflected.

For many observers, the Osun outcome underscores a simple but potent reality: when ordinary Nigerians resolve to defend their votes, even the most formidable political machinery can be checked.

Whether that lesson travels beyond the borders of Osun to the rest of the country in 2027 remains the central question now facing Nigeria’s political class.