By Hon. Lanre Jinadu (RenewedHope Ambassador)
My take on the outcome of the Osun 2026 governorship election is straightforward: the people must remain the bedrock and ultimate beneficiaries of public service. Any politician elected into office must never forget that political power is entrusted to him or her by the people and must therefore be exercised in their interest.
The outcome of the August 15, 2026 election has once again demonstrated the power of the electorate. Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party secured 511,067 votes, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. Adeleke won 19 of Osun's 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
For me, the lessons from Osun's political history are particularly instructive.
Unfortunately, the track records of both former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola left a sore taste in the mouths of many Osun people. Aregbesola's administration became heavily associated with the controversial modulated salary system, under which some categories of workers received reduced salaries. It is important to acknowledge that former NLC President Hassan Sunmonu recently clarified that the arrangement followed negotiations between the government and organised labour at the time. Nevertheless, the salary issue remained politically damaging and became one of the defining grievances surrounding that administration.
The subsequent administration of Oyetola also failed to completely resolve the salary-arrears controversy. Reports indicate that workers and pensioners affected by the earlier arrangements continued to await outstanding payments, while the Adeleke administration subsequently commenced payment of some of those arrears.
Beyond salaries, my concern is that pursuing policies and projects without sufficiently prioritising the immediate welfare of citizens can ultimately become politically costly. Government is not merely about constructing infrastructure or announcing policies; it is fundamentally about improving the quality of life of the people.
Oyetola's defeat in 2022 and now the APC's defeat in 2026 should therefore serve as a reminder that political calculations, alliances and elite strategies cannot permanently override the judgement of the electorate.
Indeed, the 2026 election has produced an especially significant political message. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national APC establishment had enormous political weight behind the opposition campaign, yet the electorate ultimately returned Adeleke. The APC's extensive campaign structure and mobilisation did not translate into victory.
Reports also indicate that President Tinubu congratulated Adeleke following the election, demonstrating the importance of respecting the outcome of the democratic process.
To me, this is perhaps the most encouraging lesson from Osun: our votes can count when citizens remain vigilant, participate actively and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The old era of electoral manipulation, subterfuge and the assumption that political power can simply be imposed from above must gradually give way to a culture where performance, accountability, competence and the people's verdict matter.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains, in my view, a realist and an unrepentant optimist about the possibility of a prosperous Nigeria. His administration has undertaken major economic reforms which, although painful in the short term, are intended to fundamentally restructure the Nigerian economy.
Those reforms have generated significant debate and hardship, but their long-term consequences should ultimately be judged by measurable results rather than political sentiments alone.
The Osun 2026 election should therefore restore confidence among Nigerian voters. It demonstrates that even an incumbent government can be challenged, national political influence has limits, and ultimately, the people still possess the power to determine who governs them.
The greatest lesson for 2027 is simple: politicians must earn the confidence of Nigerians through service, integrity, competence and results. Voters, in turn, must remain vigilant and exercise their constitutional right responsibly.
Posterity will judge every leader by the impact of his or her stewardship on the people.
God bless Osun State.
God bless Nigeria! 🇳🇬🙏🏻
Hon. Lanre Jinadu
RenewedHope Ambassador
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