…Urges Adeleke to reject Tinubu’s alleged support for 2027
Former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the 2026 Osun State governorship election as “God’s victory” and a triumph of the people over political machinery.
Eze, in a statement to journalists, congratulated Adeleke and the people of Osun State, saying the election had demonstrated that Nigerians could defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, through the ballot if they voted and protected their votes.
He described the outcome as “a victory of light over darkness,” saying: “This victory belongs principally to God and to the people of Osun State who refused to surrender their democratic rights.”
According to him, the Osun election has provided a practical lesson ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly the need for voters to remain vigilant and defend the integrity of their votes.
The ADC chieftain recalled the earlier position of former Rivers State governor and ADC vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, that defeating the APC in 2027 would not be an insurmountable task if Nigerians came out to vote and protected their votes.
“Amaechi had earlier made the point that the APC can be defeated in 2027 if Nigerians come out, vote and protect their votes. Osun has now demonstrated that this is not merely political rhetoric. It is achievable,” he said.
Eze urged Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to draw lessons from the Osun experience and exercise their constitutional right to determine who governs them in 2027.
He said the significance of the election went beyond Adeleke or any political party, arguing that it demonstrated the capacity of ordinary Nigerians to reclaim their political power.
“The message from Osun is simple: the power belongs to the people. If Nigerians replicate the vigilance, determination and courage demonstrated by the Osun electorate, we can rescue our nation from those who have taken Nigerians for granted,” he said.
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Eze, however, urged Adeleke to treat his victory as a fresh mandate and a responsibility to justify the confidence reposed in him by the electorate.
He also advised the governor to disregard any claim that President Bola Tinubu supported his re-election, arguing that aligning with Tinubu in 2027 would amount to a disservice to Nigerians who stood by Adeleke during the election.
According to Eze, “supporting the President in 2027 against the people’s efforts to reclaim the country will be a great disservice to Nigerians who stood by him, particularly the people of Osun who fought against federal might to ensure he emerges.”
He further claimed that, if Tinubu were qualified to contest in 2027, the President would face rejection by Nigerians because of what he described as his “bizarre record and poor performance” in office.
Eze warned the APC-led Federal Government not to dismiss the Osun result as an isolated political development, saying it should prompt the party and its leaders to reassess their strategy ahead of 2027.
He said the election had shown that political structures built on the assumption that Nigerians could not resist political power could collapse when citizens became determined to protect their votes.
Eze urged Nigerians not to be intimidated by political power, money or incumbency, but to remain peaceful and vigilant during future elections.
“Osun has spoken. Nigerians should listen. The people have demonstrated that democracy still belongs to them. The task before Nigerians in 2027 is to vote according to their conscience, protect their votes and ensure that the will of the people prevails.
“The people, not political godfathers, must decide who governs Nigeria,” he said.