Osun Decides: Adeleke's Victory Ignites Political Firestorm, Aftermath Rocks Local Scene

The recently concluded Osun State governorship election saw the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke, who secured 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. This outcome has elicited diverse reactions from political bodies, leaders, and international observers, while also sparking post-election tensions.

The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, hailed the election as a reflection of the people’s will and a credible democratic exercise, commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its conduct. Afenifere’s Secretary-General, Sola Ebiseni, highlighted the significant voter turnout, which surpassed one million, and the electorate's determination to ensure their votes counted, upholding a Yoruba tradition of defending political rights. The group, however, cautioned against complacency, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo congratulated Governor Adeleke on his re-election during an unscheduled visit to Ede, urging him to continue delivering good governance and meeting the needs of the Osun people. Similarly, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, congratulated Adeleke, stating that the election’s conclusion should mark a new chapter of unity, reconciliation, and purposeful governance in the state. He urged all stakeholders to set aside political differences and unite for the collective interest of Osun residents.

Other political figures also weighed in, with Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, commending President Bola Tinubu for ensuring a level playing field, which allowed the true will of the people to prevail. Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, called for all candidates to accept the outcome and urged Adeleke to foster an inclusive administration. National Chairman of Accord, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, described Adeleke's victory as a triumph for democracy against harassment and intimidation. Former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and former PDP Deputy National Chairman Olabode George also congratulated Adeleke, emphasizing the power of the people and the need for unity and respect for voters’ choices.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) national chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, viewed the election's outcome as a significant signal that shattered the perception of APC's political invincibility, warning the ruling party ahead of 2027 that electoral victory ultimately depends on voters' confidence, not party size or financial strength. The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) also celebrated Adeleke's victory as a triumph over authoritarian leadership, though they expressed reservations about the governor's reported pledge to support President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Despite the commendations, the election was not without controversies and concerns. The British High Commission, while congratulating Governor Adeleke and commending the peaceful conduct of citizens and efficient INEC officials, highlighted significant operational and conduct-related flaws. Observers reported isolated incidents of pre-election tension, widespread vote-buying across party lines, accessibility barriers for elderly voters and persons with disabilities, and voter frustration due to limited supply and slow performance of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices. The UK mission urged electoral authorities to address these systemic issues and draw vital lessons for improving electoral integrity nationwide, especially for the more complex 2027 general elections.

The Director-General of the APC Governorship Campaign in Osun State, Oluwole Oke, disagreed with INEC’s declaration, insisting that Adeleke did not secure the highest number of valid votes. The APC commenced an audit of the election process, reviewing electoral records and pledging to make their findings public. The APC candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, urged party members to remain calm while supporting the party’s decision to review the election outcome. He also expressed concern over a growing wave of hostility and violence against APC members following the election, calling on security agencies to intervene. APC chieftains like Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye and Femi Araba urged party members to consolidate gains and learn from the Osun experience for managing internal differences ahead of future elections.

Post-election, Osun State experienced significant unrest, particularly concerning the control of local government secretariats and motor parks. Following Adeleke’s re-election, his supporters moved to take over these structures, displacing officials elected on the APC platform. This situation reignited a long-standing dispute dating back to the 2022 governorship election when former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola conducted local government elections, which Adeleke's administration subsequently invalidated, appointing caretaker committees. This led to litigations, contradictory court rulings, and violent clashes, including the death of the Chairman of Irewole Local Government. Although Adeleke conducted new local government elections in February 2025, with PDP sweeping the polls after an APC boycott, the newly elected officials were restrained from resuming to prevent further clashes while the matter remained in court. The Osun State Police Command, through CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, issued stern warnings against any forceful takeover of local government areas or public institutions, emphasizing that such actions would be considered a serious breach of peace and dealt with decisively, as the matter is still sub judice.

On the technical aspects of the election, Bukola Idowu, Executive Director of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), commended the resilience of Osun voters and the impressive 51% turnout relative to PVC collection. He reported an 85% success rate for BVAS, while highlighting the IReV portal's role in enhancing transparency by allowing independent result viewing and verification. However, Idowu stressed the continued necessity of physical monitoring at collation centers, as IReV is a viewing portal, not a collation authority. He called for greater vigilance at all collation levels for 2027 and an independent audit into reported IReV interruptions during competitive elections. Idowu also noted that while the ballot counting, accreditation, and collation processes were largely free and fair, the pre-election environment recorded 81 documented cases of violence and reckless rhetoric, which cannot be detached from the overall electoral process. The Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) also praised INEC and security agencies for significant improvements in organization, technology deployment (BVAS and IReV), and professional conduct, contributing to greater transparency and public confidence.

The Osun election, therefore, serves as a crucial case study, with calls from various stakeholders for unity, good governance, and rigorous lessons for strengthening Nigeria's democratic institutions and electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections. The emphasis remains on ensuring that institutions operate independently, with loyalty to the Constitution and the Nigerian people, to deliver peaceful, transparent, inclusive, and credible elections.