The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the 2026 Osun State governorship election as evidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) can be defeated in the 2027 general elections.
Eze, in a statement issued on Monday, said the outcome of the election had demonstrated the capacity of the electorate to determine the direction of governance when citizens turned out to vote and remained vigilant in protecting their votes.
He described Adeleke’s victory as “a victory of light over darkness” and, above all, “God’s victory and not anybody’s victory.”
According to him, the Osun electorate had provided Nigerians with a practical lesson ahead of the 2027 elections by showing that political power ultimately resides with the people.
“This victory is a victory of light over darkness. It is a victory that belongs principally to God and to the people of Osun State who refused to surrender their democratic rights,” Eze said.
He added that the result had shown that “no political machinery, no amount of intimidation and no gathering of political power can permanently defeat the will of the people when the people stand together."
Eze congratulated Adeleke and the people of Osun State, urging the governor to regard his re-election as a fresh mandate and a responsibility to justify the confidence reposed in him by the electorate.
The ADC chieftain said the election had also validated the earlier position of former Rivers State governor and ADC Vice Presidential Candidate, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, that defeating the APC in 2027 would not be an insurmountable task if Nigerians were prepared to vote and protect their votes.
“Amaechi had earlier made the point that the APC can be defeated in 2027 if Nigerians come out, vote and protect their votes. Osun has now demonstrated that this is not merely political rhetoric. It is achievable,” he stated.
Eze therefore urged Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to draw lessons from the Osun election and prepare to exercise their constitutional right to determine the country’s political leadership through the ballot box in 2027.
He said the significance of the Osun election went beyond the fortunes of any individual candidate or political party, stressing that it represented the ability of ordinary citizens to reclaim their political power.
“The message from Osun is simple: the power belongs to the people. If Nigerians replicate the vigilance, determination and courage demonstrated by the Osun electorate, we can rescue our nation from those who have taken Nigerians for granted and believe that they can continue to govern without accountability to the people,” Eze said.
He also warned the APC-led Federal Government not to dismiss the Osun outcome as an isolated political development, saying the result should compel the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his political allies to reassess their strategy ahead of 2027.
According to him, the election had altered the political equation and demonstrated that political structures built on the assumption that Nigerians had no alternative could collapse when citizens resolved to defend their votes.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his political associates should understand that the political equation has changed.
The people are becoming conscious of their power. The Osun election is a warning that political structures built on the assumption that Nigerians have no alternative can collapse when citizens decide to take back their votes,” he said.
Eze further urged Nigerians not to be intimidated by political power, financial inducements or incumbency, but to remain peaceful, vigilant and committed to protecting the sanctity of their votes.
He, however, advised Adeleke to be wary of claims of support from Tinubu, arguing that accepting such backing ahead of the 2027 presidential election could amount to a disservice to Nigerians who, according to him, stood by the governor during the Osun contest.
Eze said Adeleke should recognise that the people of Osun State had demonstrated their commitment to defending their electoral choice against what he described as federal political influence.
He further expressed the view that Tinubu would face a difficult challenge in 2027
