In a major political development that has altered the electoral landscape in Osun State, incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke has secured another term in office under the Accord Party, defeating the heavily mobilised machinery of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the third-party Accord Party, secured 511,067 votes, representing 50.8 per cent of the total votes, while the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, polled 444,815 votes, equivalent to 44.2 per cent.
DAILY POST reports that the State Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, announced Adeleke as the winner after the governor emerged victorious in 19 of the 30 local government areas in the state, while Oyebamiji won 11.
Adeleke recorded victories in Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo, Iwo, Egbedore, Ife North, Ife East, Ife Central, Oriade, Ifelodun, Orolu, Ayedaade, Odo Otin, Boluwaduro, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Osogbo and Ayedire Local Government Areas.
Oyebamiji, on the other hand, won in Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun, Obokun, Atakunmosa West, Irewole, Atakunmosa East, Isokan, Ola Oluwa, Ife South and Olorunda Local Government Areas.
“That Ademola Nurudeen-Jackson Adeleke, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner of the August 15 governorship election and returned elected,” Ogunwole stated.
INEC figures showed that Osun had 2,339,233 registered voters, while 1,005,800 votes were cast during the election, representing about 43 per cent participation.
A total of 20,721 ballots were rejected, accounting for approximately 2.06 per cent of the votes cast.
The governor’s road to re-election was shaped by significant political realignments.
Adeleke won his first term in 2022 under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but later left the party following internal disputes within its national and state structures.
In December 2025, he formally resigned from the PDP and joined the Accord Party in what became a major political gamble ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
In his resignation letter addressed to the PDP Chairman of Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, in Ede North Local Government Area, Adeleke cited the unresolved crisis within the party’s national leadership as a major reason for his decision.
He also explained that the Accord Party’s emphasis on welfarism aligned with his administration’s focus on the welfare of workers and citizens.
Ahead of the August 15 election, the national leadership of the ruling APC deployed substantial political and human resources in an attempt to regain control of Osun State.
The party’s last governor in the state was Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, who served from November 27, 2018, to November 27, 2022.
The APC had previously controlled Osun continuously for 12 years, from 2010 to 2022, beginning with Rauf Aregbesola’s assumption of office in November 2010 following a court ruling that declared him the winner of the 2007 election.
Aregbesola served two terms under the progressive political alliance that evolved from the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, into the APC before handing over to Oyetola in 2018.
The progressive bloc eventually lost power in July 2022 when Adeleke, then the PDP candidate, defeated Oyetola.
Adeleke secured 403,371 votes in that election, while Oyetola polled 375,027 votes.
Ahead of the 2026 contest, Oyetola, who is now serving as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy under President Bola Tinubu, returned to the state as one of the leading strategists for the APC campaign.
Several APC governors, federal officials and influential party figures also converged on Osun in the weeks leading up to the election.
Among those observed in the state were Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni, Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Cross River Governor Bassey Otu.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and other senior political figures also participated in the APC campaign efforts.
Despite the scale of the mobilisation and the presence of political heavyweights seeking to reverse the party’s 2022 defeat, the APC was unable to dislodge Adeleke’s established support base.
The APC governors and other party leaders were later seen departing Osogbo, the state capital, in their convoys at about 2:09 a.m. on Sunday.
A video obtained by DAILY POST showed the convoy leaving the city as some residents were heard shouting, “Ole! Ole! Okpebholo Ole!”
Another major feature of Adeleke’s re-election campaign was the involvement of international music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.
The singer played a prominent role in youth mobilisation for his uncle’s campaign under the Accord Party and repeatedly warned APC leaders against interfering in Osun’s political affairs.
During the final stages of the campaign, Davido also used his social media platforms to alert supporters to what he described as possible attempts to intimidate members of the Accord Party.
In a post on his verified X account on Thursday, he wrote, “Accord members stay safe! Just got intel, the next few hours they want to start arresting our people for nothing!”
“The plan cannot work! Stay safe! Mount your guard! We are coasting to victory,” Davido added.
The singer remained outspoken against the APC campaign, insisting that federal influence and political pressure would not prevent Osun voters from making their choice.
On Saturday, he further declared his opposition to the ruling party and criticised what he described as the deployment of security agencies to influence the election.
“I can never support APC in my life,” his post read.
He also wrote: “Because we are winning. They want to withdraw the police and military! Mr President Tinubu! Ur killing democracy.”
President Bola Tinubu congratulated Adeleke after his victory, describing the outcome as evidence that democracy remained strong in the country.
The President also praised the other candidates for their participation and said their involvement contributed to the development of Nigeria’s democratic culture.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the election result as a reflection of the choice made by Osun voters.
“I called Governor Ademola Adeleke earlier today to congratulate him on his election victory in Osun State. His victory once again confirmed the confidence the people of Osun State have in him.
“I wish him great success as he prepares to lead the state for the next four years. Now that he has won, Governor Adeleke must unite the people of Osun State and rally them for growth, stability and social and economic progress, regardless of the political choices they made at the election.”
Tinubu also commended INEC and the security agencies for what he described as the peaceful and transparent conduct of the election.
After his declaration as winner, Adeleke praised President Tinubu for what he described as his support for a peaceful and credible electoral process.
The governor disclosed that Tinubu had personally called to congratulate him after the result was announced.
“I want to seize the opportunity to thank Mr President. Mr President has called me and he has congratulated me, and I thank you for making sure democracy lives on because we fought for it.
“I have a God who never fails. I have a God who never fails. I have a God who never fails. He will never fail. And Jesus never fails. I’m expecting Oyebamiji, even as a civilised person, to call and congratulate me,” Adeleke added.
He also renewed his support for Tinubu’s bid for another term in 2027, describing the President as a son of Osun State.
“At this point, I must deeply appreciate Mr President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election.
“Mr President is a son of Osun State, and I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election,” Adeleke said.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo also congratulated Adeleke while drawing attention to the governor’s endorsement of Tinubu.
In two separate posts on X, Keyamo wrote, “Huge congratulations to Governor Ademola Adeleke on his historic victory in the governorship election in Osun State.
“Thank you, Governor Ademola Adeleke, for the public and unequivocal endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT for the 2027 Presidential Election.
“You are a man of integrity and honour. ‘Agreement is agreement.’”
However, Adeleke’s campaign council rejected suggestions that the governor had entered into any political agreement with Tinubu.
The council’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said in a post on X that Adeleke’s support for the President was based on his assessment of Tinubu’s performance and reforms rather than any pre-arranged political deal.
“Do not undermine the resilience of the Osun people. There is no agreement,” he said.
Adeleke had previously endorsed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
While Tinubu personally congratulated Adeleke and adopted a conciliatory position following the election, the Osun APC has indicated that it may challenge the result through the courts.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party said it was reviewing the results recorded across all 332 wards in the state before deciding on its next step.
The APC said the electoral process does not end with INEC’s declaration and indicated that it would consider available constitutional and legal options.
“We are currently studying the results of the governorship election in each of the 332 wards across the state with a view to exploring further the allowed constitutional window of opportunity in this regard.
“We are not unaware of the fact that election is a process which begins at the registration of voters through the primary election to the election proper, which extends to the Tribunal, the Appeal Court and terminates at the Supreme Court.
“An election cannot be said to have been concluded without having explored all these constitutionally allowed legal opportunities to correct anomalies observed in the process of the election as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2026 as amended,” the party stated.
The APC called on its members and supporters to remain calm, avoid political provocation and cooperate with security agencies while the party consults its legal team.
The Osun State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, also congratulated Adeleke on his re-election.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the state chairman, Odesola Titus, the council said the result reflected the confidence placed in Adeleke by voters.
IPAC commended the electorate for participating in the election and praised INEC for conducting what it described as a free, fair and conclusive poll.
The council also acknowledged the role played by security agencies in maintaining peace throughout the exercise.
However, IPAC expressed concern over reports of voter inducement during the election.
It described vote buying as a threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process and called on relevant authorities and political stakeholders to take stronger measures to prevent the practice in future elections.
“Such action undermines the integrity of our democratic process and must be addressed to uphold the principles of democracy and fairness in our elections.
“As we move forward, let us all remain committed to building a more robust electoral system that reflects the will of the people.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Governor Ademola Adeleke on his impressive re-election victory.
“This commendable achievement reflects the confidence of the people of Osun in your leadership and vision for the state,” he added.
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