Arise Television anchor Oseni Rufai has criticised Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and the ruling All Progressives Congress over the outcome of the Osun State governorship election, dismissing claims that federal influence was absent from the contest.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Rufai challenged Wike’s assertion that the APC would have secured victory had President Bola Tinubu deployed the full weight of federal power. The anchor described the argument as denial and “gaslighting” of Nigerians, insisting that substantial political and financial resources aligned with the federal government were committed to the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke the winner after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who received 444,815 votes. Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji carried 11, leaving a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
Reacting to the result, Wike had suggested the outcome would have differed if the presidency had chosen to exert maximum influence. Rufai rejected that framing, arguing that the scale of political activity and resource deployment reportedly linked to federal interests was difficult to reconcile with claims of non-interference. According to the anchor, voters in the state resisted that pressure, leading to the APC’s defeat despite the alleged efforts.
The exchange underscores continuing tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape over the role of incumbency and federal authority in state-level Elections. Analysts note that the Osun result, coming after a closely watched contest, may shape perceptions of electoral competitiveness ahead of future polls. Both the presidency and the APC have not issued formal responses to Rufai’s remarks.
