By Adeola Badru
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has said the “sheer display of federal might” could not override the will of the people of Osun State, as he congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.
Makinde, in a congratulatory message made available to journalists on Sunday, described Adeleke’s victory as a triumph for democracy and the people of Osun State, saying the outcome of the governorship election demonstrated that the electorate retained the ultimate power in a democratic system.
The Oyo governor, who is also Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, commended the people of Osun State for demonstrating courage by voting for their preferred candidate despite what he described as violence and the deployment of federal institutions and powers in an attempt to suppress and subvert their will.
Makinde said the election had exposed the limits of political power when confronted by a determined electorate, stressing that the will of the people would always triumph over other considerations.
He said, “I congratulate my brother and Governor of Osun State, HE Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, on his re-election for another term.
“This victory is a reward for his hard work and the delivery of good governance, and, as they say, the reward for hard work is more work.
“The results of the election proved again that the people reserve the absolute power in a democracy and that their movement will always triumph over all other considerations.”
The governor specifically praised Osun voters for refusing to be deterred by what he described as the “sheer use of federal institutions and powers” against their preferred choice.
“I also commend the teeming people of Osun State for their courage to vote for their choice despite the sheer use of federal institutions and powers to suppress and subvert their will,” he said.
According to Makinde, the result represented a significant lesson for politicians who believe that political power and the machinery of government could be deployed to determine electoral outcomes irrespective of the wishes of the electorate.
He recalled that he had warned in his last newsletter that the rule of law must take precedence over political interests, adding that the Osun electorate had demonstrated the strength of popular will in the face of political pressure.
“I did point out in my last newsletter that the rule of law must be allowed to prevail over the rule of politics.
“The voters in Osun State have taught politicians a lesson that the rule of the people and their willpower will always out-muscle the rule of politics,” he said.
Makinde also warned against what he described as the use of underhand tactics by politicians determined to win elections at all costs, regardless of the consequences for democracy and the rule of law.
“When politicians resort to all sort of underhand tactics and enter a win-it-all-cost mode, not minding the survival of democracy or the rule of law, then the people will put them in check,” he said.
The Oyo governor urged Adeleke to regard his re-election as a fresh responsibility to the people of Osun State and an encouragement to deliver more development and good governance during his second term.
He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he described as the smooth conduct of the electoral process.
Makinde said the Osun governorship election was particularly significant because it served as a litmus test ahead of the 2027 general election, when Nigerians would expect the electoral commission to demonstrate an even stronger commitment to credible and transparent elections.
“Let me also commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the smoothness of the process,” he said.
“The Osun State Governorship election is a litmus test for the 2027 general election, an election in which Nigerians expect so much from INEC and it must not let them down.”
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