Osun election 2026: ADC speaks on Adeleke’s victory

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election, describing the outcome as a victory for democracy and the people of the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said Adeleke’s victory was achieved despite what it described as intimidation and the heavy use of government resources by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ADC also commended opposition parties and their supporters for working together to defeat what it described as APC tyranny.

The party said the election demonstrated that voters could resist pressure and freely choose their preferred candidate through the ballot box.

“The people of Osun have shown Nigerians that no political machine is greater than a determined electorate,” the statement said.

The ADC claimed that more than 30 state governors, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, lawmakers and other senior government officials were mobilised to Osun to support the APC during the election.

It said the heavy security presence and alleged incidents of violence, arrests and intimidation did not stop voters from turning out to exercise their franchise.

“The lesson is unmistakable: no deployment is large enough to defeat a people who have lost their fear,” the party said.

ADC raises concerns over IReV

While celebrating Adeleke’s victory, the ADC raised concerns over the suspension of result uploads on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

The party alleged that its intelligence report showed that INEC was directed at about 8 pm on Saturday to stop uploading results because it had become clear that the APC was losing.

The ADC said the interruption lasted nearly four hours and demanded a full explanation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“INEC must tell Nigerians precisely what happened,” the party said.

Party alleges attempt to disrupt election

The ADC further alleged that there may have been an attempt to interfere with the election results and make the process inconclusive.

It said the situation was only prevented from escalating because of warnings raised by Adeleke, election monitors and observers.

The party said the incident should not be ignored because it could indicate what Nigerians might face during the 2027 general elections.

The ADC maintained that the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process depends not only on the conduct of voting but also on transparency in the collation and transmission of results.

ADC says APC defeat exposes limits of government power

According to the ADC, the APC may try to present its defeat in Osun as proof of its commitment to democracy, but the party described such a move as damage control.

The ADC said the election had shown that government power could not determine how people voted, arguing that the people ultimately retained the power to decide their political leadership.

The party said the outcome should serve as a warning to political parties that electoral victory cannot be secured merely through access to government institutions, political structures or official resources.

“If Osun has taught us anything this weekend, it is this: A government may deploy power everywhere, but it cannot deploy it inside the ballot booth,” the statement said.

The ADC congratulated Adeleke and the people of Osun State, while urging INEC to address the concerns surrounding the IReV interruption and provide Nigerians with a clear account of what happened.

The party also called on political actors to respect the will of the electorate and ensure that lessons from the Osun election are applied ahead of the 2027 general elections.