Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has said that if the Federal Government genuinely wanted to take an election by force, there would be little anyone could do to stop it.

Fayose made the remark while speaking on TVC News about the outcome of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election, which was won by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party.

The former governor, who said he stayed in Osogbo throughout the election period, explained that he visited markets and communities across the state to gauge the mood of voters. According to him, his interactions suggested that the election was closely contested and could have gone either way.

Fayose said the violence, desperation and killings recorded towards the end of the election were unfortunate and unnecessary.

He congratulated Adeleke on his victory but urged him to be magnanimous and pursue comprehensive reconciliation with all political stakeholders in the state.

Fayose also pointed to the significant margin Adeleke secured in Ede, the traditional stronghold of the Adeleke family, arguing that the result contributed substantially to the governor's overall victory margin.

On claims that the Federal Government could have influenced the election, Fayose said:

“If the Federal Government wants to take an election, they will take it. If they want to take an election, there’s nothing you can do.”

His comments came amid discussions over Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s assertion that the Accord Party won because President Bola Tinubu allowed the election to remain free and fair.

Fayose agreed with Wike’s position, suggesting that the Osun election was ultimately allowed to reflect the choice of voters.