Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after securing a second term in office, following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Adeleke winner of the poll after the completion of results collation across the state’s 30 local government areas.
Addressing journalists shortly after the announcement of the result, Adeleke disclosed that President Tinubu personally called to congratulate him on his re-election.
The governor described the outcome of the election as a triumph for democracy and the people of Osun State, while commending the president for his role in protecting democratic values.
“I want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr President. Mr President has called me and he has congratulated me, thank you Mr President for making sure democracy lives on because you fought for it,” he said.
Adeleke’s remarks came hours after INEC formally returned him elected as governor-elect in the Osun governorship election.
The declaration was made by the election’s Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, after the final collation of votes from all local government areas in the state.
Presenting the final results, Ogunwole announced that Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes.
Having fulfilled the constitutional conditions required to win the election, Adeleke was subsequently returned elected by the electoral commission.
“That, Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and is returned elected, duly signed by me,” declared Professor Ogunwole.