Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun State, has thanked President Bola Tinubu for allowing what he described as a “free and fair election” to take place in the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that Adeleke paid a thank-you visit to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, where he presented his certificate of return following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
The governor defeated Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the keenly contested election.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji polled 444,815 votes to place second. Salaam came third with 17,180 votes.
The governor won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
Speaking to State House correspondents after his closed-door meeting with the president, Adeleke praised Tinubu for what he described as his commitment to protecting Nigeria’s democracy.
“That is why I’m here to thank Mr. President, the father of the nation, because he fought for this democracy,” Adeleke 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.”
Adeleke 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 visit followed Tinubu’s congratulatory message to Adeleke on Sunday, in which the president described his re-election as a “fitting assurance” that democracy would continue to flourish under his administration.
The APC, however, has rejected the outcome of the election.
Oluwole Oke, director-general of the APC governorship campaign committee for the Osun election, said the party would not rush to congratulate Adeleke on his victory.
He maintained that the APC still believes the Accord candidate did not secure the highest number of valid votes in the August 15 election.
