APC rejects Osun defeat, vows court challenge
The APC has rejected Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election victory, vowing to challenge the outcome in court as opposition parties and President Tinubu react to the result.
The All Progressives Congress has rejected Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election victory, vowing to challenge the outcome in court as opposition parties and President Tinubu react to the result. The party said it would consult its legal team and consider all constitutional and legal options available to challenge any alleged irregularities recorded during the electoral process, effectively refusing to concede defeat.
The APC made its position known in a statement issued in Osogbo on Sunday by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi. According to the party, the electoral process does not end with the announcement of results, stressing that parties are entitled to seek redress through the courts where they believe the process was flawed. “We are not unaware of the fact that an election is a process which begins with the registration of voters, through the primary election to the election proper, and extends to the tribunal, the Court of Appeal, and terminates at the Supreme Court,” Olabisi stated.
The party said it was currently studying the outcome of the election and would rely on professional advice from its lawyers before determining whether to proceed with litigation. It also commended its members and supporters for remaining committed throughout the electoral process and appealed for calm among its supporters, warning them against responding to alleged provocations by members of the ruling party.
President Tinubu Congratulates Adeleke
President Bola Tinubu, however, took a different approach. In a statement issued on Sunday, the President congratulated Governor Adeleke on his re-election, describing the outcome as “a reflection of the people’s will.” Tinubu said the peaceful conduct of the election and the clear outcome demonstrated the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy and the commitment of Osun voters to the democratic process. He urged the governor to continue serving the people of Osun State with dedication and to prioritise the development of the state.
The President’s swift congratulations, in contrast to his party’s rejection of the result, underscored the delicate balance he must strike between his role as national leader and his party’s interests. The endorsement also came as Adeleke, in his victory speech, reaffirmed his endorsement of Tinubu for a second term in 2027, a move that has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
Opposition Celebrates, Raises Alarm
Opposition parties celebrated the outcome as a victory for democracy and a warning to the APC ahead of 2027. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) congratulated Adeleke, describing the outcome as a victory for democracy and the people of the state. The party said the election demonstrated that political power and government machinery could not necessarily override the will of voters. “When a people make up their minds about the future they want, there is a limit to what intimidation, money and the machinery of government can accomplish against their collective will,” the party said.
However, the ADC also demanded an explanation from INEC over the suspension of result uploads to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) during the election. “Nigerians deserve to know who directed the INEC to stop uploading the results when it became clear that the APC was going to lose,” the party said.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki went further, describing Adeleke’s victory as an “advance payment” against the APC and a “foreshadow” of the 2027 general elections. The party alleged that the APC mobilised its “entire rigging machinery” to Osun State, boasting that it would replicate what it described as the “Edo experience,” but the people of Osun resisted. “The ruling party that is ruining the country mobilised their entire rigging machinery to Osun, with nothing left to chance, boasting that they will repeat the Edo experience, but the people of Osun State resisted their machinations and ensured the sanctity of the ballot,” the party stated.
Sowore Blasts Davido
In a separate development, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, lambasted Nigerian music star Davido over his family’s relationship with President Tinubu and the Osun State Government. Sowore accused Davido of backing President Bola Tinubu while pretending to stand with suffering Nigerians, and alleged that the Adeleke family has been treating the Osun State treasury like a “family jackpot.”
Sowore made the remarks in a post on his X account on Sunday, a day after Davido responded with insults to his criticism of Governor Adeleke’s administration. “You can’t endorse a failure like Tinubu, grin from ear to ear in meetings with him, power your circle with the so-called #cityboys, and then pretend not to understand the consequences of that political choice,” Sowore wrote.
Davido, in a terse response, wrote: “Ur a useless man.” The exchange underscored the tensions that have emerged within the political space, as Adeleke’s victory has reshaped the calculations of political actors across the spectrum.
The winners: Governor Ademola Adeleke, who has secured a second term; and the voters of Osun, who expressed their will through the ballot box. The losers: the All Progressives Congress, which has failed to reclaim the state and now faces a prolonged legal battle; and the party’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who lost by a significant margin.
Bottom Line: Adeleke has won re-election, but the APC is not conceding. The outcome has reshaped 2027 calculations and exposed the fault lines within the political class. The question is whether the courts will affirm the people’s verdict or the battle will continue.