Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in last weekend’s Osun governorship election surprised few observers. He entered the contest with incumbency, a family network, Davido’s digital reach and a grassroots structure that followed him to Accord. What has surprised many supporters is the speed with which Adeleke embraced figures they had spent months identifying as political enemies.
Within days of defeating the All Progressives Congress candidate, Adeleke reaffirmed his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term, thanked him for allowing a credible election and carried his Certificate of Return to the Presidential Villa. He then visited FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, where Davido exchanged jokes with an influential defender of the federal establishment.
To supporters who endured threats, arrests and campaign violence, those images jarred. Election-related casualty figures remain disputed: the Accord leadership claimed 29 members were killed, Adeleke earlier spoke of eight party members, while an independent conflict tracker reportedly recorded 18 deaths across 34 incidents. Undisputedly, people died, others were injured and property was destroyed. Adeleke has since announced a N500 million victims’ fund and scholarships for dependants of those killed.
