Nigeria: the opposition wins a test election 7 months before the presidential election

Supporters of Ademola Adekele celebrate his victory in the Osun state governorship election, in Ido Oshun, July 17, 2022. © AFP - PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

Seven months before the Nigerian presidential election, the opposition wins a test election.

Candidate Ademola Adeleke of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party, won the governorship election of Osun State in the south-west of the country on July 17.

A setback for the party of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, as it is the stronghold of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the majority presidential candidate.

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This regional election was the ultimate indicator before

.

And it was the opposition senator, from the PDP, who was elected, with 403 votes, while the outgoing governor, a member of the ruling party, won only 375, according to figures from the Electoral Commission. .

In the streets of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, the announcement of the victory of the opposition was greeted by spontaneous celebrations: dances, songs and horns rang out on Sunday afternoon.

All dressed in white, Ademola Adeleke remained lying down for long minutes, savoring his success, face to the ground, before getting up in tears, under the screams of joy of his relatives and political supporters.

Narrowly defeated in 2018, the PDP candidate gets his revenge with a lead of more than 28,000 votes over outgoing governor Gboyega Oyetola.

The latter, a member of the APC, nevertheless benefited from the support of his counterpart governors, reports our correspondent in Abuja,

.

This defeat is therefore a disappointment for the party of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Congress of Progressives (APC), but also a severe warning for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Because Osun State is the stronghold of the latter,

to succeed outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, who does not represent after two terms.

Southwest Nigeria is a predominantly Yoruba region, where Bola Ahmed Tinubu is nicknamed “the Godfather” for his influence and his networks.

“ 

The will of the people must always be respected

 ,” Buhari says as he congratulates Adeleke

While Gboyela Oyetola's track record was mostly positive, Osun voters made it clear they wanted change.

Many of them justifying their vote because of inflation, insecurity and lack of direction in the whole country.

A handsome player, President Muhammadu Buhari quickly acknowledged Ademola Adeleke's victory.

In a midday statement, he wrote, " 

," he said, "

 ."

The statement by the Nigerian president is in line with the peace agreement signed on Wednesday between the candidates who pledged in writing to accept the result of the election.

To ensure a smooth ballot, the police had deployed more than 23,000 officers as well as helicopters and drones. 

Congratulations well received by the new governor of Osun, but far from the fervor and tone of the video message posted in story on Instagram by the singer Davido: the latter is the nephew and very passionate supporter of Ademola Adeleke.

Election observers said the ballot, which was well attended, was

, but added that vote-buying remained commonplace.

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• Nigeria

• Elections in Nigeria

• Muhammadu Buhari