INEC Declares Governor Adeleke Winner of Osun Governorship Election

OSOGBO— The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, the winner of Saturday’s governorship election.

The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, announced the result on Sunday at the INEC collation centre in Osogbo after the aggregation of results from the state’s 30 local government areas.

According to the official figures, Governor Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who garnered 444,815 votes. The margin of victory was 66,252 votes.

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Mr. Najeem Salaam, finished third with 17,180 votes.

Governor Adeleke won in 19 local government areas, while Mr. Oyebamiji carried 11. The Accord Party secured decisive margins in its traditional strongholds, notably in Ede North, Ede South and Osogbo, which significantly widened the overall vote gap. The APC recorded its largest margins in Irewole and Boripe but was unable to overcome the deficit.

In his reaction, Governor Adeleke described the outcome as a victory for democracy and for the people of Osun State. He said President Bola Tinubu had called to congratulate him and commended the President for upholding democratic principles.

“I want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President. He has called me and he has congratulated me. Thank you, Mr. President, for making sure democracy lives on because you fought for it,” Adeleke said.

The governor also expressed appreciation to God and said he expected Mr. Oyebamiji to extend congratulations, adding that the contest should be seen under the principle of “no victor, no vanquished.”

Leaders across party lines, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former presidential candidate Peter Obi, have congratulated Governor Adeleke on his re-election.

The Commission said voting and collation were conducted peacefully across the state.