Otti Hails Peaceful Osun Election, Urges Adeleke to Build on Democratic Gains

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, describing the largely peaceful conduct of the governorship election as an encouraging sign for Nigeria’s democratic development.

Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, was declared the winner early Sunday after securing 511,067 votes, defeating his closest challenger, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. ADC candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.

In a congratulatory message issued on Sunday, Otti commended Osun voters for turning out to exercise their franchise peacefully despite some irregularities recorded during the election. He also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders for their roles in the process.

Otti said the conduct of voters before, during and after the election demonstrated what he described as the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy and citizens’ commitment to peaceful coexistence. His comments are significant coming after an election that had attracted considerable attention because of the intensity of the political contest and concerns about possible violence.

The Osun election ultimately produced a clear result, with Adeleke winning 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji carried the remaining 11. The margin of 66,252 votes gave the incumbent a second term, although the APC's performance showed that the state remains politically competitive.

Otti's message, however, went beyond congratulating Adeleke.

The Abia governor urged the re-elected governor to use his second term to deepen people-centred governance, expand opportunities and sustain peace and development across Osun. He also stressed the importance of stronger institutions and ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach ordinary citizens.

That expectation now becomes particularly important for Adeleke.

Winning an election may settle the political contest, but a second term brings a different responsibility. With the campaign over, attention will increasingly shift towards what the governor does with the mandate—particularly in areas such as jobs, infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic opportunities.

The peaceful nature of the election also gives Osun a potentially important place in Nigeria's broader democratic conversation ahead of the 2027 general elections. Recent elections have repeatedly been judged not only by who wins, but by whether voters can participate freely and whether the process commands enough confidence among competing parties and the public.

Otti's remarks therefore touch on a larger issue than the political fortunes of one governor.

For Adeleke, the task now is to ensure that the goodwill generated by a peaceful electoral transition is matched by governance that includes those who voted for him as well as those who did not.

The ballot has delivered the mandate. The second-term challenge is to turn that mandate into stronger institutions, wider opportunities and a democracy that Osun's citizens can feel in their everyday lives.