The Vote and the Pop Star
Adeleke wins Osun, APC heads to court, Davido monitors election, Abuja floods, Ganduje's son returns to APC, Enugu police bust syndicate.
Good morning,
The people of Osun have spoken. Governor Ademola Adeleke has been re-elected, securing 511,067 votes to defeat APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. That is a margin of 66,252 votes. Adeleke won 19 of the 30 local government areas. The people have spoken, but the APC is not listening. The party has rejected the outcome, vowing to challenge it in court. Despite President Tinubu having congratulated Adeleke and calling the outcome “a reflection of the people’s will,” his party is ignoring his lead. The delicate balance between national leader and party chief is on full display. There is also the issue of politicians promising guaranteed votes, as if the people’s will does not count. We did a deep dive on this after an APC youth leader promised President Tinubu 10 million votes.
And then there is Davido. The Afrobeats superstar, the governor's nephew, turned his X account into an election command centre. He demanded transparency, challenged delays, and warned against manipulation. “Call your staff to order,” he told INEC. “Federal might will fail here.” His posts reached millions. For one day, Nigeria's most influential election observer was not an NGO, but a pop star.
In Kano, another political relative, this time Ganduje’s son, is back. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje has returned to the APC after defecting to the NNPP. The political realignment continues. The question is whether his return signals a broader shift or a personal calculation.
While Osun celebrates and Kano realigns, Abuja is drowning. Flash floods have left motorists stranded across the Federal Capital Territory. The rains have returned, and the city is not ready. The 2022 floods devastated communities across Nigeria. The warning was clear. The question is whether the government will act before the waters rise again.
And in Enugu, the police are fighting back. The command has busted a kidnapping syndicate, rescuing victims and arresting suspects. The operation is a victory. The question is whether it will be sustained.
Have a blessed week,
Lolade