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Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung has said Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election in the Saturday governorship poll reflects the mood of the people more than just party calculations.
In a congratulatory statement issued on Sunday, Dalung congratulated Adeleke and noted that elections should be understood beyond “the person who wins and the person who loses.”
Dalung said Adeleke’s victory was about both his campaign structure and wider public sentiment.
“Adeleke’s victory was certainly about his own campaign and the strength of his political structure, but it was also a reflection of the mood of the people,” he stated.
He listed factors that shaped the conversation in Osun to include economic hardship, “the perception of heavy-handedness from Abuja,” the treatment of the state government, the conduct of visiting campaigners, and “the decision to impose a candidate rather than allow the party’s members to freely choose.”
The former minister noted that Adeleke’s personality also resonated with voters.
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“He may not fit the traditional image of the stiff, conventional politician, but his personality connected with a significant part of the electorate. His dances became political theatre, his campaign songs became a language of their own, and Davido’s presence added another layer to the excitement around his campaign,” Dalung said.
He added that the most important factor was the voters themselves.
“They were not merely spectators in this election. They made a choice, defended that choice and, from everything we have seen, were determined to make their votes count.”
Dalung urged that the victory be seen as a lesson for political parties that “voters are not simply waiting for instructions from party headquarters. They are watching, listening and making their own calculations.”
“Governor Adeleke, the people have spoken once again, and they have done so in spite of the everyday odds and pressures that confront them. The best way to honour this renewed confidence is not merely to celebrate the mandate, but to continue doing the things that made them trust you in the first place, and where possible, do even more,” he said.
Dalung charged the governor to focus his second term “on the people: their welfare, their dignity, their aspirations and the promise that their government will always listen to them.”
“Congratulations once again, Governor Ademola Adeleke. You have earned another mandate from the people of Osun. Now, go and do the people’s bidding,” Dalung stated.
