#OsunDecides2026: Rhodes-Vivour hails voters’ ‘spectacular triumph against tyranny’

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Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has congratulated the people of Osun State on Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election, describing the outcome of the governorship election as a “spectacular triumph against tyranny.”

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Rhodes-Vivour, in a terse statement posted on his X account on Sunday, said the Osun electorate had demonstrated that intimidation and inducement could not stop citizens determined to defend their democratic choice.

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The statement partly read, “I congratulate the great people of Osun on their spectacular triumph against tyranny.

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“You have proven that no amount of guns, intimidation and inducement can deter a people determined not to return under the yoke of their oppressors.”

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For Rhodes-Vivour, however, the immediate lesson from Osun was the capacity of voters to determine electoral outcomes when they remain committed to exercising and protecting their democratic rights.

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“Let us take the lessons from Osun and build on it towards the general elections,” he added.

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His comments came hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Adeleke the winner of Saturday’s election, returning him for a second term in office.

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Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. The incumbent won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.

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The election marked a major political comeback for Adeleke, who secured re-election after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, the platform on which he won the 2022 governorship election, for Accord.

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His victory also gave Accord its first governorship win in Osun State.

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The contest had been preceded by an intense campaign season, political realignments and allegations by rival camps over intimidation, security and the use of financial resources.

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Adeleke had repeatedly expressed concern about the political environment ahead of the poll, while his opponents campaigned on the need to replace his administration.

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Rhodes-Vivour’s reference to intimidation and inducement also comes against the backdrop of post-election concerns raised by civil society groups.

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, on Sunday urged INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate alleged vote-buying, financial inducement, violence, voter intimidation and other electoral offences connected with the poll.

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Despite the competing allegations surrounding the election, INEC’s final result gave Adeleke a clear victory over the APC candidate, while the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third with 17,180 votes.

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Rhodes-Vivour, who contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election on the Labour Party platform, urged Nigerians to draw lessons from the Osun outcome as political parties and opposition groups intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.

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His call comes amid a growing stream of reactions to Adeleke’s victory from opposition figures and political actors.

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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said the result reflected the choice of Osun voters, while other political figures, including former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, also congratulated the governor. n

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