Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has formally received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), days after securing re-election in the state’s closely contested governorship election.
The certificate was presented to Adeleke on Wednesday at the INEC headquarters in Osogbo by the commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola.
The presentation took place at about 1:30 p.m., shortly after Adeleke’s deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, was presented with his own certificate.
The ceremony marked another formal step in the process of affirming the mandate handed to the two officials by Osun voters.
Presenting the certificate, Babalola said the exercise was carried out in line with the legal provisions guiding INEC and the electoral process.
She congratulated Adeleke and Adewusi, while acknowledging the efforts of individuals and institutions that contributed to the conduct of the election.
According to her, security agencies, traditional rulers, the media and civil society organisations all played important roles before and during the poll.
Babalola also commended Osun residents for turning out to vote despite the political tension that characterised the election season.
She put the voter turnout at 43.2 per cent and urged the governor to approach his second term with a spirit of inclusiveness.
The REC specifically called on Adeleke to be magnanimous in victory as he prepares to continue leading the state.
‘Osun voters demonstrated resilience’ – INEC
Also speaking at the ceremony, INEC National Supervising Commissioner for Osun State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, described the presentation as an important moment for the state and Nigeria’s democratic process.
Ajayi congratulated the governor and his deputy, while praising voters for participating in the election despite concerns over security and reports of violence in the build-up to the poll.
He said the outcome reflected the determination of Osun residents to exercise their democratic rights.
The INEC commissioner also stressed that the electoral body’s presence in Osun was strictly to administer the election and protect the democratic process, rather than favour any candidate or political party.
Adeleke secured re-election after defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the August 15 governorship election.
INEC declared the incumbent the winner on Sunday after results from the 30 local government areas were collated.
The governor won 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji claimed victory in 11.
Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Najeem Salaam, finished third.
The final figures announced by INEC put Adeleke’s total at 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji polled 444,815 votes, giving the incumbent a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
With the certificate now formally in his possession, Adeleke moves closer to beginning another term in office, while the political focus in Osun is expected to shift from the election itself to the governor’s plans for his next four years.
For Adeleke, however, the ceremony was more than a presentation of paperwork. It was a formal recognition of the votes that secured his return to the Osun State Government House, and a reminder that the expectations attached to that mandate will now be waiting for him.