Osun guber: Adeleke presents Certificate of Return to Tinubu, thanks him for ‘allowing free and fair election’
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as allowing a “free and fair election” during the recent governorship poll in the state.
Adeleke visited Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, where he presented his certificate of return following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
The governor defeated Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the closely contested election.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji finished second with 444,815 votes. Salaam polled 17,180 votes to place third.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate won 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji emerged victorious in 11.
Speaking with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with the President, Adeleke commended Tinubu for “jealously safeguarding” Nigeria’s democracy.
“That is why I’m here to thank Mr. President, the father of the nation, because he fought for this democracy,” he said.
“That is why he allowed free and fair election, and that is the result. That is why I’m here, to say thank you, to ensure that democracy lives in Nigeria.”
Adeleke arrived at the State House at approximately 5:20 pm and proceeded to Tinubu’s office, where the meeting took place and the governor presented his certificate of return.
Tinubu had congratulated Adeleke
The visit followed a congratulatory message from President Tinubu on Sunday, in which he described Adeleke’s re-election as a “fitting assurance” that democracy would continue to flourish under his administration.
However, the APC has rejected the outcome of the election.
Oluwole Oke, Director-General of the APC Governorship Campaign Committee for the Osun election, said the party would not rush to congratulate Adeleke on his victory.
He maintained that the APC still believed the Accord candidate did not secure the highest number of valid votes recorded during the August 15 election.