RismadarVoice Reporters
September 16, 2026
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has reflected on the political activities surrounding the 2026 Osun State governorship election, saying several declarations and political moves made ahead of the poll ultimately failed to determine its outcome.
Fayose, while discussing the election and the wider political situation in the country, maintained that statements made by politicians during election periods do not necessarily translate into victory at the polls.
According to the former governor, political actors are free to make declarations and pursue their preferred strategies, but the effectiveness of such efforts can only be determined by the eventual outcome of the electoral process.
“I can say anything; if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. So many things were said in Osun. When it didn’t work, everybody went back home,” Fayose said.
His remarks followed the August 15 Osun governorship election, which saw incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke secure another term in office.
The election attracted significant political attention, with major political actors and parties intensifying campaigns and making competing claims ahead of the exercise.
Fayose’s comments centred on the difference between political declarations made during campaigns and the eventual decision of voters at the ballot box.
The former governor suggested that regardless of the level of political activity, rhetoric or expectations surrounding an election, the eventual result determines whether the strategies adopted by political actors achieved their intended objectives.
Fayose had previously spoken about the Osun election, including his assessment of the role of the Federal Government and the conduct of political actors during the contest.
He had also argued that the outcome demonstrated the limits of political influence when electoral calculations fail to produce the anticipated result.
The former Ekiti governor’s latest comments came amid continuing political discussions following the Osun election and ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Fayose has recently made several public statements on the country’s political landscape, including his views on the strategies being adopted by both ruling and opposition political figures ahead of the presidential election. Those statements remain his political assessments, with the 2027 electoral contest yet to take place.
