By David Torough, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu and former President Goodluck Jonathan have called for restraint and responsible political conduct ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with both leaders warning, from different perspectives, against practices capable of undermining democratic stability.

Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, spoke in Abuja at the signing of the peace accord ahead of the 2027 elections.

Declaring that elections should not be treated as a battle for survival, the President said, “Let us remember that elections are not a do-or-die affair. We are partners in the project of nation-building. Win or lose, our country, Nigeria, must be the ultimate winner.”

He called on politicians to campaign on ideas, debate policies and place the national interest above personal or partisan ambitions. Tinubu also pledged the commitment of the All Progressives Congress to peaceful and transparent elections, including opposition to incitement and misinformation, particularly on social media.

The President noted that Nigeria’s electoral process had improved with the deployment of technology by the Independent National Electoral Commission, citing the Permanent Voter Cards and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System as measures that have helped reduce manipulation, ballot stuffing and snatching.

According to him, the off-cycle elections conducted in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun between October 2025 and August 15, 2026 demonstrated the country’s capacity to conduct credible elections. He said the different outcomes in the states showed that political parties could win through a transparent process, while credible elections could reduce post-election disputes.

But Jonathan, in a statement titled “Osun and the Need to Set New Boundaries for Political Conduct in Off-Cycle Elections,” raised a different but related concern over the growing involvement of powerful political figures in state elections.

The former president called for an urgent national stakeholders’ engagement to address what he described as the increasing practice of serving governors, senior public officials, party leaders and other political heavyweights descending on states during off-cycle elections, often accompanied by large numbers of aides and security personnel.

While commending INEC, security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun for the peaceful conduct of the recent governorship election, Jonathan warned that excessive political mobilisation on Election Day could create an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation and undue pressure.

He recalled similar developments during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections, saying that as president at the time, he ordered party leaders and senior government officials to leave the affected states.

Jonathan argued that political parties have every right to mobilise supporters and deploy legitimate structures, but warned that overwhelming displays of political and governmental power could undermine free and peaceful competition.

He also cautioned that if the practice becomes normal, opposing parties could begin matching political influence with political influence, turning elections into battles for political survival rather than contests for the people’s mandate.

The former president therefore urged the National Peace Committee to convene a broad stakeholders’ meeting involving political parties, INEC, security agencies, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, civil society organisations and the media.

He said such a dialogue would help establish clear boundaries for political conduct before practices considered unusual today become accepted as normal.

While Tinubu’s message centred on preventing ethnic, religious and violent politics, Jonathan’s intervention focused on the conduct and influence of powerful political actors during elections. Together, their interventions underscore growing concerns over how political competition is managed as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections.

By David Torough, Abuja

Governor Ademola Adeleke has won a second term in office after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 444,815 votes.

The State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, declared Adeleke the winner at the INEC collation centre at about 7:24 a.

Ogunwole said 1,005,800 votes were cast, comprising 985,079 valid votes and 20,721 rejected ballots. Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji carried 11.

The result gives Adeleke another four-year mandate after his election as governor in 2022 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He subsequently moved to the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 election.

President Bola Tinubu congratulated Adeleke on his re-election, saying the outcome reflected the will and confidence of the people of Osun State.

Tinubu said he had personally called Adeleke to congratulate him and urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to unite the people and pursue the state’s growth, stability and socio-economic development.

The President also commended the other contestants for their participation and praised INEC and the security agencies for conducting what he described as a peaceful and transparent election that produced a clear winner.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), through its Chairman, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, similarly congratulated Adeleke, attributing his victory partly to his achievements and personal qualities.

The forum commended Osun voters for their large turnout and praised security agencies for containing the violence recorded in the days preceding the election, thereby creating a relatively secure environment for the poll.

Former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki also congratulated Adeleke, saying the result demonstrated the power of citizens to defend their democratic choices.

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi described the victory as an important democratic achievement and praised Osun voters, particularly youths, for what he called their peaceful defence of their votes.

Speaking after his victory at his country home in Ede, Adeleke called for peace and unity, particularly after weeks of pre-election violence in parts of the state.

The governor observed a minute’s silence for victims of the violence and appealed to community leaders and traditional institutions to promote reconciliation and peace-building.

He said his second term would focus on accelerating development and widening the scope of good governance, promising to consolidate his achievements while correcting his mistakes.

Adeleke declared that there was “no victor, no vanquished” and extended an olive branch to his opponents, stressing that he remained governor of all Osun residents.

He said his administration would pursue his renewed five-point agenda and work towards transforming Osun from a predominantly civil-service state into an industrial and investment destination.

The governor also thanked President Tinubu for what he described as his support for a free and fair election and reaffirmed his endorsement of the President for a second term in 2027, describing Tinubu as a “son of Osun State.”

The APC, however, has declined to concede defeat, saying it is studying the results and consulting its legal team before deciding its next course of action.

In a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party said it would explore all constitutional avenues available under the Electoral Act, including the election tribunal and subsequent appellate courts, to address what it described as anomalies in the electoral process.

The party urged its members and supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while it considers its options, and appealed to the police to protect its members from alleged attacks.

Meanwhile, jubilation broke out in Ile-Ife following INEC’s declaration of Adeleke as winner.

Residents and party supporters expressed satisfaction with the largely peaceful conduct of the election. Accord Party leader Busayo Arayela commended traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for their appeals for peace before the poll.

Osun Commissioner for Transportation, Olusesan Oyedele, also praised voters and electoral officials for maintaining order and urged residents to sustain the peaceful atmosphere after the declaration.

With the result now declared, attention turns to the transition to Adeleke’s second term, while the APC’s proposed legal response could determine the next phase of the closely contested Osun political battle.

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

As the August 15 Governorship election approaches, prominent chieftain of the Accord in Osun State, Hon Ismaila Kolawole has intensified calls for supporters and residents of Ila-Orangun and its environs to come out en-masse and demonstrate their unalloyed support to Governor Ademola Adeleke with their votes.

Kolawole while fielding questions from journalists on Tuesday however charged residents of Osun State to re-elect Governor Adeleke for a second term in office, while describing his administration’s record in infrastructure, workers’ welfare, education, healthcare, empowerment, and welfare of the aged as pace-setting, he also described the governor as a blessing saying he would do more if given another term.

His words, “Let us keep our Voter Cards till Saturday’s morning for us to bring Governor Ademola Adeleke back to the office for second term, he deserves our unalloyed support at this point in time and this is the period for us to appreciate all that he has done for us. Let us come out peacefully on Saturday and I want to assure you that you will not regret it.

“Governor Adeleke’s efforts on infrastructure projects like road construction and workers’ welfare reform including prompt salary payments cannot be over emphasized”.

Kolawole who is a former member of the House of Representatives, said the electorates should ignore threats or attempts at voter suppression while urging them to embrace peace before and after the governorship election.

The Ila-Orangun born politician emphasized the need for the people of Osun State to vote Governor Adeleke back to the office saying it will give them the opportunity to benefit from the people oriented programmes coming from the state government.

“Governor Adeleke has done well for the people of Osun, he has transformed the state, turning around the fortune of the state, better life for the rural dwellers, etc.

“Immediately he assumed the office for a second term, he will double his efforts in making life more bearable for the people.

“On Saturday, shun any intimidation or harassment by the opposition, that is the only thing they can do, don’t let that change your decision in voting for Mr Governor. Be law abiding and shun any act of political violence before, during, and after the election”, Hon Kolawole concluded.