By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Osogbo
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has said the people of Osun State defended their political rights by exercising their franchise in the governorship election held on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Sola Ebiseni, the group said it was proud of the people of Osun for demonstrating their commitment to democratic values.
“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 firmly established in history long before British colonialism,” Ebiseni said.
Afenifere described the election as a credible democratic exercise, saying it “passed creditably the test of a free, fair and credible process,” while commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its performance.
The group congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, urging him to justify the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state, noting that expectations would be higher in his next term.
Afenifere said the outcome of the election reflected the will of the people and demonstrated the supremacy of the electorate in a democracy.
“The Osun State governorship election was an affirmation of the supremacy of the will and power of the people in a democracy, as unequivocally demonstrated by the people of Osun State,” Ebiseni said.
He noted that beyond the large voter turnout, which pushed the number of voters in the state above the one-million mark, the determination of the electorate to ensure that their votes counted was particularly significant.
However, Afenifere cautioned that Nigeria still had work to do in strengthening the credibility of its electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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,” the group said.
