INEC declares Adeleke winner of Osun governorship election

By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTER, Osogbo

The Returning Officer for the Osun governorship election, Joshua Ogunwole, who announced the results at the INEC Collation Centre in Osogbo in the early hours of Sunday, said Governor Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to emerge as the winner of the exercise.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, the winner of the 2026 governorship election ending months of intense campaigns.

Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and 13 other candidates in the election held across the state’s 30 local government areas.

The Returning Officer for the Osun governorship election, Joshua Ogunwole, who announced the results at the INEC Collation Centre in Osogbo in the early hours of Sunday, said Governor Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to emerge as the winner of the exercise.

Collation of results for the election started around 2 in the morning and finished around 8 am.

His closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), placed second with a final vote tally of 444,815 votes, while Najeem Salaam, candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was a distant third with 17,180 votes.

Adeleke won in 19 local government areas while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11 LGAs.

A total of 15 political parties contested the election, while INEC reported that 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been collected in the state.

Adeleke, who won his first term in office on the PDP platform in 2022, campaigned on his administration’s record in infrastructure, the economy, pension payments, healthcare and digital transformation.

INEC reported that Adeleke won in several local government areas, including Oriade, Osogbo, Orolu, Ife Central, Ilesha West, Ife North, Ede South, Ifedayo, Boluwaduro, Iwo and Ifelodun.

Oyebamiji, meanwhile, secured victories in Ilesha South, Boripe, Irepodun, Obokun and Atakumosa West.

Ahead of the election, Adeleke had repeatedly raised concerns about possible attempts to disrupt the poll and pledged to establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate reported killings and other acts of violence linked to the election.

The governor had also highlighted his administration’s achievements, saying Osun had made progress in digitalisation and economic development.

“Osun is no longer offline. Osun is awake—digitally and economically,” Adeleke said while outlining his administration’s achievements.

He added that his government had prioritised the payment of outstanding obligations and the welfare of retired workers, describing the administration’s record as evidence of performance and leadership.