Arise Television anchor, Oseni Rufai, has criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the outcome of the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.
Speaking during Arise Television’s Morning Show, Rufai urged Wike to stop what he described as “gaslighting” Nigerians regarding the result of the election.
The television anchor dismissed claims that the Federal Government did not deploy its influence and resources during the poll.
According to Rufai, considerable political activity and financial resources were allegedly deployed in an effort to secure victory for the APC, but the party ultimately failed to win the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, winner after he secured 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11, leaving the incumbent with a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
Commenting on the election, Wike had argued that the APC would have emerged victorious if President Bola Tinubu had decided to deploy the full weight of federal power to ensure the party’s victory.
However, Rufai rejected the argument, describing it as a form of denial and “gaslighting” of Nigerians.
He argued that the claim that federal influence was not deployed was difficult to reconcile with the level of political mobilisation and resources allegedly committed to the election.
According to the anchor, political interests aligned with the Federal Government made significant efforts to influence the outcome of the poll but were unable to secure victory for the APC.
Rufai maintained that voters in Osun State ultimately resisted the alleged pressure and chose to retain Adeleke as governor.
BACKSTORY:
The controversy followed the outcome of the Osun State governorship election, in which incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke defeated the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. Adeleke secured 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, winning 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.
After the result, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike argued that the APC could have won if President Bola Tinubu had deployed the full weight of federal power to the election. Wike also maintained that Adeleke’s victory should not be interpreted as a defeat for Tinubu.
Rufai subsequently challenged Wike’s position during The Morning Show, arguing that the level of political mobilisation and resources reportedly deployed ahead of the election made it difficult to accept the claim that federal influence was not brought to bear.
His comments have added another layer to the post-election political debate, particularly as parties and political actors begin assessing the implications of the Osun result ahead of Nigeria’s wider political contests.
