By Precious Onwumelu
Osun people, una do am oooh!!!
On Saturday 15th August, the rain fell, the sun shone, and the ballots rolled. By Sunday 16th, INEC had dusted the results and announced it: Ademola Adeleke of Accord is returning to Abere.
The numbers no dey lie:
- Ademola Adeleke – Accord: 511,067 votes
- Bola Oyebamiji – APC: 444,815 votes
- Najeem Salaam – ADC: 17,180 votes
Margin? About 66k votes. That is not “rigging range.” That is “people came out” range.
Aproko Mataz has 3 gists to drop this morning:
- “NO SHAKING” REALLY MEANT SOMETHING: Governor Adeleke took to X and posted “NO SHAKING, Imole is coming back.” And Imole really came back. The dancing governor, the man with the signature groove, convinced Osun people to give him 4 more years.
The message from voters was clear: “We saw what you did in the last 4 years. Finish the work.”
- WHERE WAS PDP? Biggest aproko from this election: PDP didn’t even field a candidate. Yes o. The party that produced Adeleke in 2022 sat this one out.
So, Accord inherited the structure, and APC brought their “AMBO” and their money. But Osun people remembered. They remembered the free healthcare, the school feeding, the “Imole” branding. Memory beat money this time.
- WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Honeymoon is over o. Winning is easy, but governing is the real exam.
Osun people are already making their list:
– Complete those road projects
– Fix PHCs so NHIS card can work
– Pay teachers on time
– Make Osun the culture + tourism hub we know it can be
To the APC: lick your wounds, go back to the wards. 444k people voted for you. That’s not small.
To the winner: Congratulations sir, but Aproko Mataz will be here in 6 months with “Mid-Term Report Card.” No hiding place.
Final Gist:
Osun State has shown Nigeria something; that a governor can dance, can meme, and can win with votes, not just vibes and that people will collect rice on Friday and still vote their conscience on Saturday.
Osun State has voted, now let the governor work, and let “Imole” shine.
