They examine Adeleke’s victory, the changing role of social media, voter behaviour and the political lessons ahead of 2027.
By Oriontimes Post-Election Report | August 17, 2026
The dust is gradually settling on the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, but questions surrounding the outcome, the strategies deployed by political actors and the lessons for future elections remain subjects of intense public debate.
The conversation examined the pre-election atmosphere, voting patterns, the influence of money and social media, the performance of political parties, and what the election could mean for the wider political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
‘You Can Bring Money, But We Will Vote Our Conscience’
For Mojeed, one of the clearest messages from the election was the electorate's determination to exercise its franchise according to personal conviction, regardless of the resources deployed by political actors.
He argued that the outcome demonstrated that financial inducements alone could not completely determine the direction of the electorate.
“You can bring money, but we will vote our conscience,” Mojeed said, describing the outcome as a lesson that political parties and candidates must take seriously.
He maintained that the Osun election should therefore be studied beyond the immediate victory and defeat of individual candidates, particularly in understanding the evolving behaviour of voters.
Social Media Changes the Electoral Battlefield
Reflecting on the pre-election and post-election periods, Taiwo identified the growing influence of social media as one of the defining features of the 2026 contest.
According to him, the digital ecosystem has significantly altered political communication and accountability, making it increasingly difficult for political actors to operate without public scrutiny.
“The power of social media was felt, changing the democratic ecosystem. You cannot just do anything secretly unlike in the past,” Taiwo observed.
He said the message from the election had been delivered to the political class that the era of “business as usual” was gradually giving way to a more transparent and closely monitored political environment.
Taiwo cited the reaction of music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, during the uploading of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission's system as an example of how influential personalities and digital platforms could draw immediate public attention to electoral processes.
He also commended journalists, conventional media organisations and online influencers for their roles in monitoring and communicating events throughout the election.
Aregbesola’s Political Legacy and the 2022 Connection
Mojeed also examined the political history leading to the 2022 Osun governorship election and its possible connection to the 2026 outcome.
He argued that the political influence of former Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola played a significant role in creating the political conditions that paved the way for the Peoples Democratic Party's victory in 2022.
According to him, that political development eventually reinforced Governor Ademola Adeleke's political standing in the state.
He, however, raised questions about the political dynamics surrounding Aregbesola and the opposition during the 2026 election.
Discussing the political calculations surrounding the August 15 election, Mojeed turned attention to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), particularly its candidates and political structures in Osun.
He referenced the political significance of Ejigbo, the home base of former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and ADC governorship candidate, Najeem Salam.
Mojeed argued that a stronger ADC performance in the area could have altered the electoral arithmetic and potentially reduced the margin enjoyed by the eventual winner.
He suggested that the political weight of figures such as Aregbesola and Salam could have translated into a substantial number of votes for the ADC had the party fully consolidated its structures across the state.
“If Ogbeni and Najeem Salam seriously worked for ADC, you can't tell me they would not pull up to 100,000 votes,” Mojeed argued, suggesting that such votes could have significantly affected Adeleke's eventual tally.
He also questioned the political symbolism of Aregbesola's reported loss in his own polling unit, given his history as a former governor and minister and his reputation as one of the prominent political strategists associated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Lessons for 2027
The discussion also moved beyond Osun to the emerging political configuration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mojeed described the ADC as a serious political platform with ambitions extending to the presidency, arguing that the emergence of major political figures within the party could make the 2027 contest significantly different from previous elections.
He also expressed reservations about the ability of Peter Obi to translate his strong regional following into a nationwide electoral coalition, describing him as predominantly a regional politician.
The comments, however, form part of a broader political debate over whether emerging opposition coalitions can transform their growing influence into a nationwide electoral structure by 2027.
Vote Buying and the Responsibility of Institutions
For Taiwo, one of the more troubling aspects of Nigeria's electoral system remains the persistence of vote buying.
He argued that society itself continues to create an environment in which vote buying can thrive, despite the existence of institutions legally empowered to prevent electoral malpractice.
His observation raises a broader question about the effectiveness of electoral institutions, political parties, security agencies and voters themselves in confronting the practice.
‘Osun Is Teaching Politicians Lessons’
In his concluding assessment, Mojeed placed the Osun election within the broader economic and political realities of the state.
He noted the limited presence of large-scale manufacturing industries in Osun, citing Ilesa Brewery as one of the state's notable manufacturing concerns.
For him, the state's political environment provides a lesson for politicians: electoral success cannot permanently rest on money, incumbency or political connections alone.
He argued that politicians seeking relevance must increasingly be judged by their track record, intellectual capacity, political strategy and ability to connect with voters.
“Osun is teaching politicians lessons,” Mojeed said, stressing that the lesson should extend beyond the 2026 governorship election and be reflected in the 2027 general elections.
The Bigger Picture
The post-election conversation suggests that the significance of the August 15 election extends beyond the emergence of a winner.
It points to an electorate that is becoming increasingly difficult to predict, a political environment where social media can rapidly influence public perception, and an opposition landscape searching for a formula capable of challenging established political structures.
For political parties, the lesson may be straightforward: money can influence an election, but it cannot completely replace strategy, organisation, credibility and the voter's personal conviction.
As Osun moves beyond the ballot and towards another major political cycle, the real postmortem may not simply be about who won or lost. It may ultimately be about who understood the changing electorate, and who failed to recognise that the rules of Nigerian politics are changing.
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