The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has described the recently concluded Osun State governorship election as an affirmation of the supremacy of the people’s will in a democratic system.

While commending the resilience and determination displayed by Osun voters during the electoral process, the group commended what it described as the historic voter turnout, stating that the development signposted a milestone in the state’s political evolution and a testament to the growing political consciousness of its citizenry.

In a statement issued by the secretary general of the organisation, Sola Ebiseni, the group lauded the voters for their steadfast commitment to ensuring that their ballots counted, describing their conduct as a continuation of the tradition of political activism for which the Yoruba people have been renowned.

Afenifere noted that the electoral contest passed creditably as a free, fair, and credible process, pointing to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) performance throughout the electioneering period as having attracted widespread commendation from across the country and across diverse political divides.

The group maintained that the election had met the requisite standards of credibility, noting that INEC’s performance had earned commendation from stakeholders across the political spectrum.

However, the organisation cautioned about the imperative for sustained improvements in the country’s electoral architecture.

The statement read in parts, “Most significant was not only the large turnout of the people that has now pushed Osun State above the one million voters’ margin but also their determination in ensuring that their votes counted.

“We are proud of them for keeping aloft a culture of defending their political rights, for which the Yoruba people are known not only in Nigeria but also as being firmly established in history long before British colonialism.

“The election, no doubt, passed creditably the test of a free, fair and credible process for whose performance the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been overwhelmed by commendation across the country and diverse political divides.

“Our commission to the commission is that it cannot be uhuru until our country joins the league of nations where the credibility of the electoral process is beyond anxiety each election season, with all eyes and minds on the 2027 general elections.

“We congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke for his re-election and need not remind him that the expectations will be higher in justifying the confidence reposed in him by the people.”