Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the Osun State governorship election as a political setback for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Momodu, who supported Adeleke during the election, said the contest was effectively a battle between Adeleke’s political strength in Osun and the influence of the President.
He made the remarks on Monday while discussing the outcome of the election, in which Adeleke secured a second term after defeating the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
According to Momodu, the APC campaign relied heavily on Tinubu’s name and influence, making the result a test of the President’s political standing in the state.
“Without any doubt whatsoever, he lost,” Momodu said, referring to Tinubu.
He questioned the political strength of the APC candidate and former Osun State governor Gboyega Oyetola, arguing that both figures were presented to voters largely through their association with Tinubu.
Momodu said the result should serve as a warning to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly because voters in Osun demonstrated that they could choose a candidate based on their own assessment rather than simply following the preference of a national political figure.
He also attributed Adeleke’s victory to his strong grassroots presence and relationship with voters across the state.
According to Momodu, Adeleke had built a direct connection with people at the grassroots, which helped him maintain support despite the political weight brought against him during the campaign.
He also praised the role of social media in the election, particularly the activities of music star Davido, Adeleke’s nephew, who provided regular updates and encouraged political awareness among voters.
Momodu said social media helped keep people informed during the voting process and contributed to greater public awareness of developments as the results were being collated.
Adeleke won the election with 511,067 votes, defeating Oyebamiji of the APC, who polled 444,815 votes. ADC candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.
Momodu said the outcome demonstrated that voters could support a candidate they considered closer to them, regardless of the political influence behind the opposing side.
He described Adeleke as a politician with a strong grassroots connection and said the Osun result could send a wider political message ahead of the 2027 elections.
The comments come after a closely watched election in which the influence of the Presidency, the strength of the incumbent governor and the wider political alliances surrounding the major candidates became central issues in the campaign.
