Adeleke Wins Osun Governorship Election, Secures Second Term

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has won the Osun State governorship election, securing a second term in office after defeating his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Oyebamiji.

The Returning Officer for the election, Joshua Ogunwole, announced the result at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation centre in Osogbo in the early hours of Sunday.

Adeleke recorded 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji of the APC finished second with 444,815 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

Ogunwole declared Adeleke the winner after confirming that he had met the legal requirements to emerge victorious.

A total of 1,005,800 votes were cast across Osun State’s 30 local government areas. Of this figure, 985,079 votes were declared valid, while 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the election.

The victory marks a significant political milestone for Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which he secured his first term in office.

Explaining his decision to join Accord, Adeleke had said the party’s emphasis on welfare aligned with his administration’s focus on improving the well-being of citizens and workers.

Fifteen political parties participated in the election, which followed months of intense campaigning and political exchanges across the state.

Security was significantly strengthened ahead of the poll following concerns over possible violence. Police authorities deployed thousands of personnel across Osun, alongside aerial surveillance assets, while the Federal Government directed security agencies to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

President Bola Tinubu had also urged security agencies to protect voters and polling units, while calling on INEC to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

The election was preceded by several developments that attracted public attention, including the temporary freezing of an account belonging to the Osun State Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The move was later reversed following the President’s intervention.

Another last-minute development occurred when a court ordered INEC to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the election. The ruling forced the electoral commission to make urgent adjustments to its ballot production and logistical preparations.

Despite the late changes, INEC officials said the commission completed the production and distribution of the required sensitive materials ahead of the poll.

Following the announcement of Adeleke’s victory, supporters across Osun State took to the streets in celebration. Major celebrations were reported in Osogbo, the state capital, and Ede, the governor’s hometown, with supporters singing, dancing and waving party symbols.

The result brings to a close a closely watched governorship contest and confirms Adeleke’s return for another term as governor of Osun State.

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