The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District, Amb. Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the August 15 governorship election, urging him to make development and inclusive governance the focus of his second term.

Ajadi, in a congratulatory message, said Adeleke’s victory reflected the decision of Osun voters and called on the governor to respond to the renewed mandate with policies that improve the lives of residents across the state.

Adeleke was declared the winner of the election after polling 511,067 votes, according to the results cited in Ajadi’s statement. His closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, received 445,815 votes.

The election gave Adeleke a second term after he contested under the Accord Party. He had previously won the 2022 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party before leaving the party and joining Accord.

Ajadi said the result should mark the beginning of another period of responsibility for Adeleke rather than the conclusion of a political contest.

“I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke on his victory in the Osun State governorship election. The people of Osun have spoken clearly through their votes, and their decision must be respected,” he said.

He urged the governor to extend his administration’s programmes to residents irrespective of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity or social background.

According to Ajadi, the governor should use the second term to consolidate existing achievements while giving greater attention to economic opportunities, infrastructure, education, healthcare and employment.

The APM candidate also urged Adeleke to reach out to political opponents and supporters of other candidates now that the election had ended.

He said the development of Osun should take precedence over political divisions and called for cooperation among political actors and other stakeholders.

“Now that the election is over, there should be no victor and no vanquished,” Ajadi said. “Governor Adeleke is now the governor of all Osun people, including those who did not vote for him.”

He urged the governor to use the second term to build broader political consensus and create an environment in which residents can contribute to the state’s development regardless of their political affiliations.

The call comes against the backdrop of a closely contested election, with Adeleke facing Oyebamiji and other candidates in the August 15 poll. The campaign had featured competing positions on issues including infrastructure, education, healthcare, electricity, agriculture and economic development.

Ajadi also urged Adeleke to place young people at the centre of his administration’s economic agenda.

He identified digital skills, technology, education, entrepreneurship and employment as areas that could help young people participate more actively in the state’s economy.

According to him, investment in those areas could help create opportunities for young people while strengthening their contribution to Osun’s development.

Ajadi said the renewed mandate should therefore be judged by the extent to which residents experience improvements in their daily lives.

“Leadership is not about winning elections alone. It is about what you do with the mandate after the election,” he said.

The APM candidate said Adeleke now had an opportunity to deepen his administration’s focus on policies that could improve living standards and expand economic opportunities.

Ajadi’s latest message also echoes his response to Adeleke’s first governorship victory in 2022.

Following that election, Ajadi, who was then a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, congratulated Adeleke and called on him to unite residents of Osun State.

He also advocated the use of technology to create opportunities for young people, improved electricity supply to attract investment and measures to strengthen the state’s economic development.

Ajadi had also appealed to musician David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to use his international exposure and experience to support his uncle’s administration.

Four years later, Ajadi said his latest congratulatory message was based on the same view that political mandates should ultimately translate into tangible improvements for citizens.

He congratulated Osun residents for participating in the electoral process and urged political actors to accept the result peacefully.

Ajadi also wished Adeleke a successful second term, saying the ultimate measure of the governor’s renewed mandate would be whether residents experience better governance, greater economic opportunities and improved living conditions.