The outcome of the Osun State governorship election has triggered fresh reactions on X, with some netizens asking Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, whether he could have adopted the political strategy of Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke in defending his mandate and second-term ambition.
The reactions followed Adeleke’s victory in Saturday’s election, where he defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Drawing a comparison between the political situations in Osun and Rivers states, an X user, @SimFubaraKSC, asked: “Dear @SimFubaraKSC, did you learn anything from the Osun election?”
The user argued that Fubara should have relied on popular support to withstand political pressure, particularly amid his prolonged political crisis with his predecessor and political godfather, Nyesom Wike.
According to the post, “It’s not about godfatherism. If the people are behind you, you become an unstoppable moving train.”
The user further alleged that the APC had projected the fear of its political dominance onto Fubara, ultimately affecting his political calculations and second-term prospects.
Another X user, @felixherbit, wrote: “He failed to clock that… Fear of APC and Wike grip his mind.”
Similarly, @MrDonPe endorsed the argument, writing: “Approve this message 👍🏽.”
Another commenter, @SimpFubara, described the governor in disparaging terms and accused him of being too weak to protect his political interests or deliver for the people.
The comments come against the backdrop of the political developments in Rivers State, where Fubara’s second-term ambition became a major issue in the political crisis involving him and Wike. The subsequent political settlement effectively altered the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
For the commenters, however, Adeleke’s victory in Osun provides a contrasting example of how an incumbent can use grassroots support and electoral legitimacy to withstand formidable political opposition.
The debate has therefore shifted beyond Adeleke’s victory to a broader question of whether political leaders in Nigeria can rely on popular support to resist the influence of powerful political structures and godfathers.