The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, has endorsed his party’s decision to review the outcome of the poll.
Oyebamiji, who finished second in the election, said he respected the electoral process but fully supported the APC’s ongoing review of the result.
The former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority disclosed this in a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday.
“While I respect the decision, I totally support the decision of our party in its ongoing review of the outcome of the election,” Oyebamiji said.
He thanked APC members, Osun residents and his supporters for their commitment and sacrifices throughout the campaign, saying the political values and vision promoted during the election remained relevant despite the conclusion of the poll.
“Consequently, I appreciate the many people who believed in and supported the alternative vision we articulated,” he added.
Oyebamiji also appealed to his supporters to remain calm and peaceful as the state moves beyond the election.
“I urge all of you who stood by our party and campaign to keep working for our community, to stay engaged, to continue to organise and to remain vigilant for the collective good of our state,” he said.
Oyebamiji alleges attacks on APC supporters
The APC candidate, however, expressed concern over what he described as an increasing wave of hostility against members of his party and his supporters.
According to him, violent attacks allegedly witnessed during the build-up to the election had continued and intensified after the poll.
“The violent attacks on our members witnessed in the build-up to the election have taken another dimension in the last 24 hours,” he said.
Oyebamiji consequently called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to intervene and prevent further violence.
“Consequently, I urge the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to intervene and arrest this ugly trend without delay,” he added.
Adeleke declared winner
Fifteen political parties contested the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, winner after he secured 511,067 votes.
Oyebamiji of the APC polled 444,815 votes to finish second, while the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.
Declaring the result at the INEC Collation Centre in Osogbo, the Returning Officer, Joshua Ogunwole, said Adeleke satisfied the requirements of the law and was therefore returned elected.
INEC recorded 1,005,800 votes cast during the election, with 985,079 valid votes. A total of 1,010,684 voters were accredited across the state’s 30 local government areas.
With the victory, Adeleke, who first became governor in 2022, secured another four-year term in office.
Oyebamiji said his political engagement would continue, stressing that the campaign’s vision of effective, inclusive and rapid development remained alive.
“We will continue to work for effective, inclusive, and rapid development of our dear Osun,” he said.
