- Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan congratulated Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke after INEC declared him winner of the August 15 governorship election
- The Kogi senator praised INEC and President Tinubu for allowing the will of Osun voters to prevail despite intense political pressure surrounding the poll
- Natasha also acknowledged Davido’s role in his uncle’s re-election campaign, calling his commitment an example of personal conviction in democratic participation
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over nine years of experience covering politics, elections, public affairs, and governance in Nigeria and Africa.
Osogbo, Osun state – Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election victory, calling the result a clear expression of the people’s will.
Legit.ng has reported how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, winner of the August 15 governorship election, defeating All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji and 14 others who contested the poll. The Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, made the final declaration after INEC’s electronic results portal recorded thousands of polling-unit results during collation.
Natasha on the Meaning of Adeleke’s Win
In her reaction, Senator Natasha said the outcome was proof that political machinery and pressure could not permanently override the choice of the electorate.
“The people of Osun State have spoken loudly and unmistakably. They stood firm, defended their votes and demonstrated that democracy belongs to the people. No amount of political machinery, intimidation or pressure can permanently silence the voice of the electorate,” she said.
She urged politicians across Nigeria to draw a lesson from the election ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that voters were increasingly able to distinguish between genuine performance and empty promises.
“The Osun election has once again demonstrated that the people remember. They remember those who served them, those who stood with them and those who delivered when it mattered most. Political power is temporary, but the impact of good governance remains in the hearts of the people.”
Natasha Commends INEC, Tinubu and Davido
The senator praised INEC for managing the process and ensuring the votes cast by Osun residents were properly counted and declared.
“I commend the leadership of INEC for conducting the Osun election and for allowing the votes of the people to count. Elections are not merely about voting; they are about ensuring that the votes are properly accounted for and that the legitimate choice of the electorate is respected,” she said.
She also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had urged Osun voters to go to the polls without fear and choose freely, saying his position carried weight given the political stakes involved.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves commendation for allowing democracy to take its course in Osun State,” Natasha said.
Senator Natasha also recognised the role of music star David Adeleke, known as Davido, who chaired the Imole Youth Campaign Team and paused his music career to campaign for his uncle. On election day, Davido publicly alleged that soldiers tried to prevent him from entering Osun State, insisting on his right to freedom of movement.
“Davido stood firmly with his uncle. He did not hide his position or abandon his conviction when the political atmosphere became difficult,” the senator said.
She concluded by urging Governor Adeleke to treat his renewed mandate as a responsibility to serve every citizen of Osun State, adding: “To every politician, there is a simple lesson from Osun: if you are a politician, let your works speak for you.
Read Senator Natasha’s full Facebook post on the Osun election below:
Kogi PDP Candidate Hails Adeleke’s Victory
In the same vein, Michael Samuel Idoko, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ogugu Constituency in the 2027 Kogi State House of Assembly election, has congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, describing the outcome as a powerful demonstration of what an engaged electorate can achieve.
In a post-election assessment, Idoko said the significance of Adeleke’s renewed mandate stretched beyond the fortunes of any single party or candidate. He argued the election offered broader lessons about voter resilience and the shifting nature of political power in Nigeria, particularly in a climate where citizens had faced considerable pressure.
Idoko referenced the political and legal disputes over local government leadership in Osun State, as well as the reported freezing of statutory local government allocations by federal authorities from early 2025. He said those circumstances created a serious political, administrative and fiscal burden for Adeleke’s administration, yet voters returned to the polls and made their choice regardless.
‘The System’ Is the People
A central argument in Idoko’s assessment was his rejection of the idea that an unseen political “system” could override the will of determined voters. He said politicians and commentators frequently deploy the concept of “the system” during election periods to suggest that certain outcomes are fixed before a single ballot is cast.
“The ‘system’ is imaginary. The people are the system,” Idoko said, insisting that political alliances, godfathers and party establishments could all be overturned when citizens chose to exercise their rights with conviction.
He maintained that the Osun election showed political calculations widely considered unassailable could unravel when voters acted collectively and decisively.
No Politician Should Be Untouchable
Idoko also spoke on the value of the individual ballot, noting that while a single voter might seem insignificant, hundreds of thousands acting together could fundamentally reshape the political landscape of an entire state. He said one vote could reward performance, punish arrogance, reject imposition, or change the direction of governance.
He urged political parties and candidates to rethink how they engage with citizens, warning against treating voters as numerical assets to be mobilised during campaigns and discarded afterwards.
“No politician should be considered untouchable,” Idoko said, adding that no political structure or godfather should assume permanent ownership of an electorate.
He argued that political power is not an inheritance but a mandate lent to politicians by the people who elected them.
Reflecting on Adeleke’s victory, Idoko said it should serve as a reminder that voters remain the ultimate arbiters of a state’s political destiny.
“The political class may have its structures. The parties may have their machinery. The godfathers may have their networks. The establishments may have their influence,” Idoko said. “But when the people become sufficiently conscious, determined and united in their political choice, the calculations of the political establishment can change dramatically.”
Read more on Osun election 2026
Osun election 2026: Tinubu calls Adeleke
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, released a State House press statement, confirming that the president placed a personal call to Governor Ademola Adeleke to felicitate with him following the Osun election’s outcome.
Beyond the congratulations, Tinubu used the statement to lay out expectations for Adeleke’s second term. He urged the governor to prioritise unity and work toward the economic and social development of the state, irrespective of how residents voted during the election.
Source: Legit.ng