The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the Osun State governorship election as an “advance payment” by Nigerians against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the balance would come in the 2027 general elections.
The party said the outcome was a warning that Nigerians could resist political pressure and defend their votes, while urging citizens to remain vigilant as the country approaches the 2027 elections.
The position was contained in separate statements issued by the PDP Interim National Working Committee and its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed.
The Interim National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, focused on the wider political implications of the election and alleged attempts to interfere with the electoral process.
“Overall, the result from Osun is an advance payment by Nigerians against the APC, the balance will come in 2027,” Ememobong said.
He alleged that the APC deployed its political machinery to Osun in an attempt to secure victory, citing alleged intimidation, assaults and arrests involving opposition politicians.
“The ruling party that is ruining the country mobilized their entire rigging machinery to Osun, with nothing left to chance, boasting that they will repeat the Edo experience,” he said.
Ememobong also referred to a controversial statement attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, his subsequent invitation by the police and eventual release, alleging that the episode illustrated the pressure allegedly faced by opposition figures during the election.
He accused security agencies, particularly the police, of partiality and criticised the freezing of the state government’s accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He also faulted what he described as a delay of more than two hours in uploading results from 470 polling units by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The manifest partiality of security agencies, especially the police, and even the shameful intervention by the EFCC freezing the accounts of the state; and the intentional delay (more than two hours) in uploading the results of the 470 polling units by INEC, are acts that are not just condemnable but are actions capable of derailing democracy,” he said.
According to Ememobong, the people of Osun resisted the alleged attempts to influence the election and ensured that their votes prevailed.
He warned Nigerians against becoming complacent ahead of 2027, saying the APC’s failure to win Osun should not be interpreted as an end to alleged efforts to undermine the electoral process.
“Nigerians must vote, protect and defend their votes,” he said.
He maintained that electoral victories should reflect the freely expressed wishes of voters rather than the influence of political power or state institutions.
“Election results must be reflective of the wishes of the people freely expressed through the ballot and not the enforcement of the whims and caprices of a privileged minority of oppressors,” Ememobong said.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, stressing that the responsibility for protecting democracy ultimately rested with citizens.
Meanwhile, Jungudo congratulated Adeleke on his victory and acknowledged the confidence placed in him by the people of Osun State.
Although Adeleke contested the election under the platform of the Accord Party, Jungudo said the PDP remained proud of its contribution to the democratic development of the state.
He urged political actors to put the peace, progress and interests of Osun State and Nigeria above partisan considerations.
“May this victory mark the beginning of an even greater chapter of progress, unity, and prosperity for the people of Osun State,” Jungudo said.
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