Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed reports,
Senator Ademola Adeleke, now elected as the new Governor of Osun State, has lauded President Muhamadu Buhari for his success in the just-concluded state gubernatorial election.
Adeleke maintained that the assent given to the electoral act by the President played a key role in his victory as the governor-elect, the Track News Nigeria has learnt on Monday.
Adeleke commented that the fresh Electoral Act curbed rigging and other electoral malpractices in the just-concluded election.
He stressed: “If he (Buhari) didn’t sign the new Electoral Act, there would be rigging. I have to give credit to him. we are in the digital age. When the result was coming out, it was just GBAM. before they knew it, the results were out. No time for rigging. He did that to me in 2018 but this Electoral Act, it’s great!”
President Buhari signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law on February 25, after some changes have been made to the bill by members of the National Assembly.
Adeleke commended the President for congratulating him on his victory, noting that Buhari’s statement has shown that democracy is here to stay in the country.
However, he vowed to visit the President after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Hee explained: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria congratulating me – when I saw it, I said wow, this is good for our country,” he said. “Democracy is at play here and I am sure after I receive my certificate of return from INEC, I plan to visit him and tell him ‘thank you for the message’.
“Most of the time, the opposition do not congratulate their opponents. Maybe he is trying to leave a legacy that he meant with the Electoral Act that he signed. I am really happy.”
Adeleke divulged that he is yet to receive a congratulatory call from his opponent and incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
Read our earlier report that Adeleke defeated the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Oyetola on Saturday.
Adeleke won 17 local government areas in the state out of 30, while Oyetola had the remaining 13 local government areas.
Oyetola polled 375,027 votes, while Adeleke gathered 403,371 votes to win the governorship election.
