The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, sampled the sweet taste of victory after he was declared the winner of the Osun State governorship election, polling 403,371 votes to win against the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gboyega Oyetola, who achieved 375,027.
It was a tension-soaked race as the two leading candidates had also squared off in the 2018 governorship election, which was slightly won by Oyetola, 255,505 to 255,023 votes, although in controversial situations.
In 2018, Adeleke was leading Oyetola in the election with 353 votes before it was announced inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which also instructed a rerun in seven polling units. After the supplementary votes, characterized by heavily militarised security personnel and armed thugs that disenfranchised many voters, Oyetola overtook Adeleke’s lead to finish the contest with a margin of 482 votes.
The table, however, turned the other way on Saturday to deny Governor Oyetola a second term in office and serve as a relief for Adeleke, who saw his victory as a vindication that he was the initial winner of the 2018 election.
Residents in Osogbo, the state capital, and Ede, the hometown of Adeleke, trooped to the major roads to celebrate the victory of the PDP candidate, which left the Adeleke family, especially popular musician, Davido, in tears of joy.
Overwhelmed with joy, Adeleke shed tears while lying at the feet of his business mogul brother, Deji. Present were former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Bayelsa State governor, Duoye Diri; governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and PDP Vice Presidential Candidate and Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
The triumph came despite objections to flying an all-faith ticket after the governor-elect picked a Christian as deputy governorship candidate, Kola Adewusi.