Osun Erupts: Governor Adeleke Declared Victor in 2026 Election Amidst Jubilation
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has won re-election in the Osun State governorship election, securing 511,067 votes against APC's Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji. The victory, declared by INEC, sparked widespread jubilation and received commendations from political figures like Bukola Saraki and Peter Obi for strengthening Nigeria's democracy. Voter turnout was high, though concerns about incomplete result uploads were raised.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has been re-elected for a second term in the recent Osun State governorship election, securing a decisive victory over his main rival, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Adeleke the winner in the early hours of Sunday, following the Saturday governorship election.
According to the official results announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwale, Governor Adeleke polled a total of 511,067 votes. His closest contender, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, garnered 444,815 votes. Dr. Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Party (ADP) came in third with 17,180 votes. Governor Adeleke demonstrated strong support across the state, winning in 19 out of the 30 Local Government Areas, while Oyebamiji secured victories in 11 local governments. Prof. Ogunwale confirmed that Adeleke satisfied all constitutional requirements for victory, including securing the highest number of votes and obtaining a two-thirds majority in two-thirds of the state’s local government areas.
The election statistics provided by INEC indicate a total of 2,339,544 registered voters. Out of these, 1,010,684 voters were accredited to participate. The election saw 985,097 valid votes, with 20,721 votes rejected, bringing the total number of ballots cast to 1,005,800. The voter turnout for the election was noted to be approximately 43.4%, which was highlighted as high by recent Nigerian standards, signaling active citizen participation.
News of Governor Adeleke's re-election sparked widespread jubilation across Osun State, particularly in Osogbo, the state capital, as well as in areas like Okefia and Olaiya Junction. Supporters and residents took to the streets, singing victory songs and chanting slogans such as “Imole! Imole!” in celebration of his return to office. Many expressed their happiness and commended INEC for conducting a fair election. Some residents, like Taiwo Oloyede, also praised President Bola Tinubu for ensuring a free electoral process and for his intervention when the state government's account was frozen. Civil servant Odunola Omojola attributed Adeleke's victory to his commitment to workers' welfare, stating that the Osun workforce's backing played a significant role.
In his immediate reaction after being declared winner, Governor Adeleke described his victory as a triumph for democracy in Nigeria and a clear endorsement of his administration by the people of Osun State. He expressed gratitude to God and the electorate for their unwavering support, noting that the election outcome reflected the people's appreciation for the dividends of democracy delivered in critical sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and education.
Prominent political figures also extended their congratulations. Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, lauded Adeleke's re-election as a clear expression of the people's will and a