The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the Osun State election, Bola Oyebamiji, has backed the party’s decision to review the outcome of last Saturday’s poll, saying he “totally support[s]” the move.

The APC had earlier said the review of the election and its results would guide its next course of action.

Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes to finish behind incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord, said he respected the party’s decision and supported its ongoing assessment of the election.

“I totally support the decision of our party in its ongoing review of the outcome of the election,” he said.

The APC candidate secured victory in 11 local government areas, while Adeleke was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Sunday after polling 511,067 votes and winning in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.

Oyebamiji also appreciated those who supported his campaign and the alternative vision presented by the APC.

“Consequently, I appreciate the many people who believed in and supported the alternative vision we articulated,” he said.

He urged his supporters to remain calm and peaceful as the state moves beyond the election.

The former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), however, expressed concern over what he described as a growing “trend of hostility” against APC members and his supporters.

“The violent attacks on our members witnessed in the build-up to the election have taken another dimension in the last 24 hours,” Oyebamiji wrote in a post on his X account yesterday morning.

“Consequently, I urge the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to intervene and arrest this ugly trend without delay.”

Oyebamiji thanked APC members, Osun residents and his supporters for “their steadfastness, commitment, sacrifice, and tireless efforts”, stressing that while the election had ended, “the values and causes we championed are alive.”

“We will continue to work for effective, inclusive, and rapid development of our dear Osun. I urge all of you who stood by our party and campaign to keep working for our community, to stay engaged, to continue to organise and to remain vigilant for the collective good of our state,” he said.