The Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the Osun State governorship election as a “foreshadow” of the defeat awaiting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

The Interim National Working Committee, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the outcome of the election demonstrated the determination of Nigerians to resist attempts to subvert their electoral choices.

It said Adeleke’s victory, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was achieved despite what it described as the deployment of the “entire rigging machinery” of the APC to Osun State.

According to the group, the election represented a test of the people’s resolve to protect the sanctity of the ballot, alleging that opposition politicians were subjected to intimidation, assaults and arrests in the build-up to the poll.

It also alleged that the ruling party had sought to win the state “by fair or foul means”, while referring to the controversy surrounding comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi and his subsequent invitation by the police.

It further accused critical national institutions, particularly security agencies, of failing to maintain neutrality during the electoral process.

It condemned what it described as the “manifest partiality” of the police, as well as the alleged freezing of the state government’s accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It commended the people of Osun State for what it described as their resilience and vigilance, urging Nigerians to remain equally vigilant as the 2027 elections approach.

It cautioned voters against assuming that the APC and institutions allegedly involved in electoral manipulation would abandon such practices following its defeat in Osun.

“While we commend the resilience of the electorate in Osun, we urge Nigerians not to rest on their oars as the 2027 elections approach. Nigerians must vote, protect and defend their votes,” it said.

The party argued that the Osun result should serve as a warning to the APC, insisting that the electorate had demonstrated that political power could not be imposed against the wishes of the people.

“Overall, the result from Osun is an advance payment by Nigerians against the APC, the balance will come in 2027, when Nigerians will send packing the most ineffective and destructive political class in the history of Nigeria, post-independence,” the statement added.

The Turaki-led group stressed that election results must reflect the freely expressed wishes of voters rather than “the enforcement of the whims and caprices of a privileged minority of oppressors.”