Adebutu, Ogun PDP chieftain hail Adeleke on Osun governorship victory
August 16, 2026 1:31 pm
Governor Ademola Adeleke during the press conference after he was declared as Osun State Governor.
The 2027 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, and a chieftain of the party, Segun Showunmi, have congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election, describing the outcome of the poll as a victory for democracy and the people of Osun State.
Adebutu, in a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Afolabi Orekoya, commended Adeleke for what he described as steadfastness, people-oriented governance and his ability to secure and validate the mandate freely given to him by the people of Osun State.
He said Adeleke’s victory was an indication that the will of the electorate would ultimately prevail over political manoeuvring.
Adebutu said, “I heartily congratulate my brother, Governor Ademola Adeleke, for proving that when the people stand firmly behind a leader, no force can subvert their will. His strides in Osun are a testament to what the people really need—good governance and genuine empathy for the masses.”
The PDP chieftain also said the APC in Ogun State was already losing its grip on the electorate ahead of the 2027 governorship election. He said the people of Ogun had become increasingly dissatisfied with the APC administration and would reject the party at the polls.
Similarly, Showunmi, in a separate statement, said the outcome of the election had demonstrated the growing maturity of democratic culture in the South-West. He said the election showed that the Yoruba electorate had little tolerance for what it perceived as bullying or the excessive use of political power.
Showunmi said voters were increasingly willing to identify with perceived underdogs and express their displeasure through the ballot box whenever they believed one side was being unfairly pressured.
He added that the election had reinforced the importance of incumbents’ performance and popularity in governorship elections.
According to him, federal influence remained relevant but could not easily substitute for the goodwill earned by a governor through performance, accessibility and positive public perception. Showunmi also observed that voters were becoming more independent in their choices, arguing that political endorsements alone could no longer guarantee electoral victory.
He said, “The era when political endorsements alone guaranteed electoral outcomes appears to be fading. Citizens are increasingly exercising their judgment and voting according to their convictions.”
The PDP chieftain further warned political parties and their leaders against neglecting stakeholders, saying party structures could not automatically translate into enthusiastic electoral support. He said internal party actors who failed to carry stakeholders along might discover during elections that those they had neglected were unwilling to support them.
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