‘Thank You, Mr President’ — Adeleke Salutes Tinubu for ‘Allowing Free, Fair Election’ in Osun

Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, has thanked President Bola Tinubu for allowing what he described as a “free and fair election” to hold in the state.

The governor paid a thank-you visit to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday to present his certificate of return, which he received following his victory in the August 15 governorship election in the state.

Adeleke defeated Bola Oyebamiji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Najeem Salaam, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flagbearer, in the keenly contested election.

He polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji placed second with 444,815 votes. Salaam came a distant third with 17,180 votes.

Adeleke won in 19 LGAs, while Oyebamiji was victorious in 11 LGAs.

Addressing State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with the president, Adeleke hailed Tinubu for “jealously safeguarding” Nigeria’s democracy.

“That is why I’m here to thank Mr. President, the father of the nation, because he fought for this democracy,” he said.

“That is why he allowed free and fair election, and that is the result. That is why I’m here, to say thank you, to ensure that democracy lives in Nigeria.”

The governor arrived at the State House at about 5:20 pm and proceeded to the president’s office for the meeting during which he presented his certificate of return.

BACKGROUND

The development follows the president’s congratulatory message to the governor on Sunday, in which he described his re-election as a “fitting assurance” that democracy will continue to flourish under his administration.

However, the APC has rejected the outcome of the election.

Oluwole Oke, director-general of the APC governorship campaign committee in the Osun election, said the party would not hurriedly congratulate Adeleke on his re-election.

According to him, the APC still believes that the Accord candidate did not score the highest number of valid votes in the August 15 election.