#OsunDecides2026: APM Nominee Claims Decisive Voters Ousted Ruling APC Party

Lagos State governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Prince Laja Adeoye, believes Governor Ademola Adeleke's victory in the Osun State governorship election showcases the electorate's ability to resist political pressure and uphold their choice at the polls.

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Adeoye congratulated Adeleke on his re-election in a statement on Sunday, noting that the election outcome sends a message to the ruling All Progressives Congress that political power and resources cannot permanently override the will of the electorate.

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According to Adeoye, the election result is a powerful reminder that a determined people cannot be defeated, even if vast funds and state apparatus are deployed against them, as the will of the people will still prevail.

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The Osun electorate has demonstrated that votes, when protected and courageously cast, remain the ultimate weapon against political tyranny, Adeoye stated, citing the outcome of the election as a testament to this fact.

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Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, was declared the winner of Saturday's election by the Independent National Electoral Commission after securing 511,067 votes.

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His closest challenger, the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, polled 444,815 votes, while the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

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Adeleke won 19 of the state's 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11, securing Adeleke a second term after he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party.

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Adeleke's defection significantly altered the political landscape in the state, with 25 members of the Osun State House of Assembly subsequently defecting from the PDP to Accord.

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The election was marked by intense political competition, shifting alliances, and security concerns, but Adeoye noted that the Osun electorate remained resolute despite heavy militarisation, voter intimidation, and substantial financial resources deployed in the election.

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Adeoye said the people of Osun stood firm, defended their mandate, and voted massively for the man they trust to continue leading them.

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Competing accounts of the election's conduct have emerged, with allegations of vote-buying, intimidation, and other infractions, although the Centre for Democracy and Development described the election as generally peaceful, with some operational challenges.

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Adeoye believes the Osun result should serve as a lesson for Lagos voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging them to use their votes to determine the direction of governance in the state.

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He called on Lagosians to brace up, saying the determination of the Osun people and the power of their votes have shown the way, and that in 2027, Lagosians can end APC misrule through the ballot box.

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Adeoye stated that the APM offers a credible alternative, with the right leadership, and pledged to deliver better policies, prudent fiscal management, and practical solutions to the everyday challenges of Lagos residents if elected governor.

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Adeoye also urged Nigerians to support the APM ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing the party's presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, as a leader of integrity capable of delivering good governance across the country.

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Adeoye warned Adeleke against abandoning the Accord Party in favour of the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying this would amount to a betrayal of the trust the people have placed in him.

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Adeoye urged the governor to reciprocate the confidence of Osun voters by dedicating his second term to serving the people and improving their welfare.

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The APM candidate said the Osun election has ultimately demonstrated the power of the ballot and the ability of voters to determine who governs them.