#OsunDecides2026: AAC candidate vows to return stronger after defeat

Olajide Esan, AAC Osun Governorship Candidate

The African Action Congress governorship candidate in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Olajide Esan, has said his political movement will return stronger despite his loss in the poll.

Esan stated this in a message posted on his X handle on Sunday, thanking the people of the state for their support.

He said his campaign under the Irapada Osun movement was not solely focused on winning the election but on promoting what he described as the awakening of the people and their liberation.

“The Vision Outlives the Election: When we launched the IRAPADAOSUN movement under the banner of the African Action Congress (AAC), it was not based on the narrow goal of winning an election, it was based on something that is far greater: THE AWAKENING OF THE MINDS AND TRUE LIBERATION OF OUR PEOPLE,” he said.

Esan, who during the campaign was backed by the party presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, criticised the influence of money in politics, saying it would not permanently silence the movement.

“The monetization of politics by the moneybags won’t silence us forever. Even though our people are trapped by weaponized hunger, poverty and ignorance that have been fashioned against them, the tide is turning, and the grip that the oppressors have on the people is loosening.”

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He added, “This is only the beginning, we will be back stronger, better, and more steadfast in our fight to restore good governance back to the people.”

The AAC candidate polled 1,458 votes to place eighth among the 15 candidates who contested the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Prof Joshua Ogunwole, declared the Accord Party candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke, the winner after he polled 511,067 votes.

Adeleke defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who scored 444,815 votes. The governor won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.

The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.