Akinade, who is also the Lagos State Chairman of the National Rescue Movement, NRM, described the election outcome as a positive development for Nigeria’s democracy.

“We are happy that the election was peaceful, free and fair. It reflected the wishes of the people.

“Another lesson we learnt from this election is that the general belief nowadays that votes do not count is wrong, vote actually counts.

“Osun election outcome actually cancelled and nullified this belief and narrative. We must not give up to make our democracy better and stronger,” she said.

According to her, power belongs to the people and cannot be taken away from them when they actively participate in the electoral process.

Akinade said elections would be difficult to manipulate when the electorate turns out en masse to vote and protect their votes, unlike when voters show apathy.

She, however, said the council was saddened by reported cases of violence and killings in the build-up to the election.

She urged citizens to always make themselves available to exercise their franchise during elections, especially with the 2027 general election approaching.

Mohammed said recent electoral developments, including the outcome of the Osun State governorship election, had demonstrated that federal influence could no longer guarantee victory at the polls.

According to him, the decision by some opposition parties to boycott the council polls instead of testing their popularity before voters was a tactical mistake.

“If they had listened to me, my advice was that they should have gone ahead to test their popularity. If you sit down at home and think that the Federal Government will give you latitude and leeway to win an election, President Tinubu is showing people that he is a democrat,” he said.

Mohammed cited the Osun election, where incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke was declared winner, as evidence that voters now have greater influence over electoral outcomes.

“You have seen what happened in Osun; the people voted, and their votes counted. People should know that there is no person that is going to install them—there is no monarchy here. It is democratic governance,” Mohammed added.

He urged political parties and their candidates to embrace the democratic process by engaging directly with the electorate rather than depending on external influence.

Mohammed also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to conducting an open, credible and competitive electoral process across Bauchi State.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, the APC chieftain said the assumption contributed to the party’s defeat in the election.

He said, “Yes, there were sentiments, and members of our party, I think, also had an overkill. Some thought that probably the federal government would come and just drive everybody and write the results.

“Our members and supporters took Adeleke for granted, and the members of his party, his movement, in such a way that what we ordinarily ought to do in certain places, we didn’t do, thinking that, look, what is it? I will win the election. We can even do whatever to win the election. Well, that didn’t happen.

Aliyu also condemned the remark attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, saying it was wrong for the APC chieftain to threaten the opposition with his comments.

“But yes, I agree with you, Senator Fadahunsi spoke in Yoruba; I don’t speak Yoruba, I don’t understand Yoruba that much, I think what he did was very wrong, for coming out to say ‘kill’.”

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DAILY POST reported  that the APC lost the Osun governorship election to the Accord Party, with Governor Ademola Adeleke securing victory at the poll.