By Jude Opara, Abuja

Apparently basking in the euphoria of the victory recorded by the party in the Osun State governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the outcome of the election was a a foretaste  of what is to come in the 2023 presidential election.

National Chairman of the PDP, Sen.

Iyochia Ayu in a statement on Sunday thanked the people of Osun state for electing their candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke in the exercise.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the Adeleke as duly elected after polling 403, 371 against the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gboyega Oyetola who recorded 375, 027.

Ayu who recounted what the party passed through before costing to victory also recalled that the state used to be a PDP state before it fell into the opposition after a court ruling.

“A few days ago, the defeated and outgoing Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his party, the APC, did everything to frustrate us. This included denying us the use of any public facility in the state capital for our mega-rally.

“We had to use the party’s state secretariat. As it were, we couldn’t have access to the stadium, but we had access to the people’s hearts, loyalty and votes.

“Twelve years ago, specifically on 26th November, 2010, the PDP lost Osun state – not through the ballot-box – but via a judicial coup (ruling). 

“That coup (ruling) terminated the action-packed tenure of HE Olagunsoye Oyinlola. And since then, Osun has been frozen in executive misrule and underdevelopment.

“Four years ago, the PDP won the governorship, but our Candidate, Sen. Adeleke, was robbed of victory in broad daylight. We went back to the drawing-board, and today, we have reclaimed our victory.

“Today is, therefore, not just a day of double restoration – it’s a day of redemption too. It restores PDP to power and redeems the Osun people from the scourge of mediocrity, empty promises and excuses”. 

The PDP boss while congratulating Adeleke and the people of Osun state also assured them that the incoming government  will work to restore the state.

“You have kept faith with the PDP. You refused to be intimidated. You refused to be bought over with foodstuffs and 30 silver coins. You said no to thuggery and vote-fraud. You have done well.

“You have helped to return PDP to power after 12 years. You have returned hope to Osun state. But beyond this, you have renewed the quit notice on the reigning APC federal government. PDP first issued the quit notice in December last year when this present leadership assumed office. 

“This election was a referendum on the disastrous APC stewardship, and proves conclusively that Nigerians want PDP back. And, indeed, PDP is coming”!

The PDP Chairman also lauded INEC and the security agencies for being neutral and ensured that the votes counted.

 
Atiku Congratulates Adeleke, Osun People

Meanwhile, the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has congratulated the winner of Osun  governorship election, Sen Ademola Adeleke.
Abubakar in a statement on Sunday in Abuja,  described Adeleke’s victory in the election as a well-fought victory.
He also congratulated the PDP family and all stakeholders who came together to make the victory possible.
Abubakar also congratulated the people of Osun  for proving that power truly belonged to the people.
“I have always had affection for the people of Osun  for obvious reasons. Yes, my wife hails from there, but if you have to walk a difficult path and you need men and women of courage and astute valour, the people of Osun will never be a disappointment.”
Abubakar said that it would  be on record that Osun had provided the compass into that brighter future that awaited  Nigeria at the horizon.
He said  the referendum on 2023 general elections had commenced with the verdict of the people of Osun  in electing Adeleke, saying we know that the 2023 general election would be a full referendum.
“The ship of hope is already at the harbour under the umbrella of the PDP. We shall intensify the work to ensure that we uproot all vestiges of bad governance and false hopes toward the 2023 election.
“The Imole (light) that has started to shine from Osun shall soon have a national coverage.
“One more good thing about the victory in Osun is that it has provided a catalyst for the PDP to see the opportunity when the party works together in unity.
“The work to bring the PDP together is a work in progress and the good news is that we are steadily making progress.
As you wake up the morning after (Sunday, July 17), you may be assured that you are doing so with the illumination that has come to Osun.”
Abubakar said that the march  to reclaim Nigeria’s greatness had begun and it shall not stop until the party achieved the goal of one people, one future and one country.

Buhari Congratulates Adeleke on Election Victory, says People’s Will Must be Respected

In respose to the outcome of the election, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Senator Ademola Adeleke.
The President’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement  by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Sunday in Abuja.
The president expressed  conviction that with the election over, the people of Osun had expressed their will through the ballot, and the will of the people must always matter and be respected in a democracy.
According to him, the successful conduct of the election is a further testimony to the maturity and commitment of all stakeholders – the electoral body, security agencies, political parties, the media, civil society and the electorate- to further strengthen the integrity of the electoral process in the country.
Buhari reassured the nation that  the  commitment of his administration ”toward having credible elections remains unshaken.”

Adeleke Has Reclaimed PDP’s Stolen Mandate in Osun-Saraki

In the same vein,  former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said that Sen. Ademola Adeleke, has by the victory reclaimed the mandate given to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) four years ago, which he said was stolen by the All Progressives Congress (APC)

In a statement released on his social media handles, Saraki emphasized that after the inexplicable loss in 2018, Adeleke demonstrated leadership by working to build stronger coalition across the state and the nation in order to ensure that the PDP remained the most popular party in the state and emerged victorious four years later.

The former Senate President also described the incoming Osun State Governor as the “leader that Osun needs at this crucial time,” while also commending the work of the PDP’s polling unit agents who worked to ensure that every vote was counted and that results from all polling units were uploaded to the INEC election portal in line with the new Electoral Act guidelines.

The statement reads; “Today, all across Nigeria, the nation has watched as the people of Osun State have delivered a clear, loud, and strong message: “Imole De” — which means that light has come. 

“We have watched, as the people of this great state have reclaimed their mandate and the mandate of my dear friend and brother, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the PDP Governorship candidate, which was surreptitiously stolen at the polls exactly  four years ago.

“With everything that we have all witnessed here in Osun State, one lesson remains clear: the people of Nigeria want better. They want lives that are not hampered by the rising cost of living, the flailing economy, and insecurity. They want a conscientious government — one that works for and represents the best interests of themselves, their families, and their communities.

“Make no mistake, this victory was not easily attained. It is the culmination of the sacrifice and hard work of our party leaders, stakeholders, and leaders, who all played specific roles to ensure that this time around, our party’s mandate has been protected, and our candidate has now emerged victorious”.

Saraki also congratulated Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, for their role in ensuring that the PDP claimed victory in the election. While commending INEC and security agencies for their unbiased role, he said the PDP has made a statement ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

“I commend all the polling unit agents and the young people in the PDP situation room who stood their ground to ensure that the votes were counted and uploaded in line with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. I must say, after training our determined polling unit agents earlier this week, and spending the entire day with the young and excited people that manned our situation room, I am more than optimistic about our party’s chances in 2023. When we work together, the PDP is unstoppable!

“I commend INEC and the security agencies, who largely were impartial and allowed the votes of the people of Osun to be reflected in the actual results”.

He added that with this “winning strategy”, moving forward, the objective is clear that the PDP is ready to take over power, fix and rescue Nigeria from the failures of the past seven years.

Adeleke’s Victory Affirmation of People’s Will- Okowa

On his part the running mate of the PDP presidential candidate and governor of Delta state  Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta said the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke in Osun governorship election was the affirmation of the will of the people.

Okowa stated this in a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Sunday in Asaba.
According to Okowa, Adeleke’s victory was the affirmation of Osun people’s will, adding that Nigerians should always stand for good leaders with the interest of the people at heart as Osun people just did.

He said the electorate across the 30 local government areas of the state spoke loudly and very clearly in the affirmation of their choice for Adeleke as next governor.

He lauded former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Sen. Olu Alabi and other party leaders in the state for working together in the interest of PDP and Osun people.

Okowa said the election of Adeleke had signposted the reality of PDP’s determination to rescue Nigeria, adding that “the mission has just begun.

“Let me congratulate my brother, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the July 16 governorship election in Osun.

“It is heart warming to see you emerge as Governor-elect of Osun against all odds and I am grateful to the electorate in Osun for shunning entreaties of retrogressive forces who were ostensibly resolved on subverting the wishes of the people through vote buying and other rigging strategies.

“Let me also thank the INEC for demonstrating true independence as required by the laws of our land and for improving on the logistics and conduct of the election.

“The most significant aspect of this victory is the peaceful outcome of the election as Osun people conducted themselves responsibly by ensuring that the election was devoid of violence.”

The governor also congratulated the PDP and the Chairman of its National Campaign Council for Osun Governorship Election and Governor of Bayelsa, Sen. Douye Diri and other members of the campaign council for their efforts which culminated to the victory.

He said the brotherhood displayed by PDP governors and other party members towards the election of Adeleke was what the country needed currently to take the nation to greater heights in 2023.

Okowa also appreciated the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President Namadi Sambo and former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki for their attendance at the rally in Osun, an action that contributed immensely to the outcome of the election.

“Going forward as a nation, we can only develop further if the people are allowed to chose their leaders at all levels without any hindrance as has been exemplified in Osun.

“It’s therefore, a clarion call on INEC to strive to do the right thing as an unbiased umpire.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you my dear brother and friend, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, on your successful election as Governor-elect of Osun,” he said.

The governor prayed God to grant Adeleke wisdom, knowledge and the needed resources to attend to his campaign promises of taking away the darkness that pervades the state.
Also the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki congratulated Adeleke on his victory in the Osun governorship election.
In a statement on Sunday in Benin, the governor said the people chose PDP’s values of equity, unity and progress.
According to him, I congratulate  Adeleke, on his victory in the Osun 2022 governorship election.
“The people of Osun have made their choices through the ballot, choosing the PDP and our ideals of equity, unity and progress
“We stand with the people of Osun in sending a clear message to Nigerians that we are prepared and ready to tackle the nation’s challenges.
Obaseki said: “We thank the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for sustaining the electoral reforms which started in the Sept. 19, 2020 Edo  governorship election.
“These reforms have ensured a peaceful, fair and credible conduct of the election, which gave the people the freedom to elect their preferred candidate.
“As a party, we remain steadfast in our commitment  and are, by this victory, fired up to go into the 2023 general elections to win,” he said.

Oyetola Yet to Congratulate Adeleke
Says he’s Still Consulting Party Stakeholders 

 
However, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Ademola Adeleke, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the 2022 Osun state gubernatorial election, the incumbent, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to congratulate the winner, even as he called on his supporters to remain calm.

Governor Oyetola who was defeated in the said election also said he has taken cognizance of the result of the poll as announced by INEC.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, the governor who is of the APC said he was still consulting with the party hierarchy, adding that the party would respond appropriately to the guber result.

He also stated that he would need to consult widely with critical stakeholders in the APC before making any official reaction.

The statement read, “We have taken cognizance of the results of the governorship election in the State as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Sunday.

“The party would be responding appropriately after studying the results and consulting with critical stakeholders of the party,” he said.

While calling on the party members and supporters to remain calm, Governor Oyetola urged the residents to go about their businesses without hindrance.

“We cease this opportunity to call on security operatives to ensure maintenance of law and order,” he added.

The statement also disclosed that the state governor has directed security operatives to take adequate charge so as to prevent break down of law and order in any part of the state.
Adeleke defeated the incumbent governor, Oyetola by scoring 403,371 while the latter had 375,027 votes.