A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has described Ademola Adeleke’s re-election as Osun State Governor as a personal loss for President Bola Tinubu.
Momodu stated this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while reflecting on the outcome of the election held on Saturday.
He maintained that the poll was not merely a contest between Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC), but a battle involving President Tinubu.
When asked whether his earlier description of the election as “Adeleke versus President Bola Tinubu” meant that the President personally lost the election, Momodu said, “Without any doubt whatsoever, he lost.”
The veteran journalist argued that the APC’s efforts to secure victory in the state could not have changed the outcome, insisting that the party would still have lost regardless of the number of people it mobilised to Osun.
“They could have carried everybody from every part of Nigeria to Osun. They would still have lost.”
Momodu also criticised the manner in which some APC governors supported the party’s candidate, describing it as a bad image for the party.
He alleged that the Federal Government’s influence was used against Adeleke during the election, claiming that the governor was “oppressed” and “terrorised” by the FG.
He noted that the outcome of the election has broader implications for the 2027 general election, as the APC would have to contend with growing resistance from Nigerians.
“Nigerians are going to resist APC. It’s the quiet, silent, bloodless revolution in the making,” he stated.
Momodu defended Adeleke’s decision to support Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the governor was entitled to make his own political choice.
He described Adeleke’s support for Tinubu as a form of political insurance, stressing that the governor should not be condemned for making a political decision he considered necessary.
However, Momodu pointed out that the events surrounding the Osun election, particularly the violence and deaths recorded during the process, should not be forgotten.
“We must respect the memory of those who lost their lives,” he said, calling for an independent panel to establish what happened during the election and for those found responsible to face appropriate punishment.
Momodu further emphasised that Adeleke’s performance in Osun influenced his decision to support the governor, noting that he backed him based on what he described as his achievements in the state.
“I supported him based on performance,” he said, adding that Adeleke had transformed the state’s landscape through what he described as significant investments and development projects.
