The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as a demonstration of commitment to democratic values during the Aug. 15 Osun State governorship election.
The association also congratulated Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke on his re-election, describing the outcome as a reflection of the choice of the people of Osun State.
In a statement signed by its National President, Dr Meshach Anthony Nwankwo, DVM, NAUS said President Tinubu had demonstrated that democracy was bigger than political party, personal interest or partisan advantage.
Nwankwo said the President’s decision to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to discharge its constitutional responsibility without undue political interference had strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated that democracy is bigger than political party, personal interest or partisan advantage.
“By allowing the electoral umpire to perform its constitutional responsibility, the President has strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process,” he said.
NAUS also commended INEC, electoral officials, security agencies, political parties, candidates and the people of Osun State for their participation in the electoral process.
The association noted that the result-uploading and collation process, including the use of the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), provided an additional layer of public visibility to the election.
It congratulated Adeleke, candidate of the Accord Party, on his victory and urged him to regard his re-election as a mandate to serve all residents of the state irrespective of political affiliation.
“We congratulate Senator Ademola Adeleke on his victory. The election is over; governance must now begin with renewed commitment,” Nwankwo said.
He urged the governor to focus his second-term administration on improving education, youth empowerment, employment opportunities, infrastructure, security and inclusive development.
The association also urged candidates and supporters of the various political parties to accept the outcome peacefully and pursue any legitimate grievances through appropriate constitutional and legal channels.
NAUS said Nigeria’s democracy would continue to mature when electoral victories were determined by citizens’ votes rather than incumbency, intimidation or manipulation of electoral institutions.
The students’ body further called on President Tinubu to sustain what it described as his democratic posture in future elections and strengthen the independence, credibility and institutional capacity of INEC and other democratic institutions.
It also urged Adeleke to make education, human capital development and youth inclusion key priorities of his second-term administration, stressing that the future of Osun State depended largely on opportunities created for young people and students.
NAUS reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful democratic participation, electoral accountability, youth inclusion and the advancement of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.