•We are studying development to determine the next line of action — APC
- Governor dedicates victory to God, Osun people
- APC calls for calm
THE incumbent governor of Osun State and candidate of Accord, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has been declared winner of the 2026 governorship election, sparking wild jubilations across the state.
The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Olalekan Ogunwole, announced the final results at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Osogbo, at about 7:50a.m on Sunday.
According to the results declared from the 30 local government areas of the state, Adeleke secured 511,067 votes, defeating his closest rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
The victory gave Adeleke a winning margin of 66,252 votes over Oyebamiji.
The Accord candidate won in 19 of the 30 local government areas, while the APC candidate secured 11.
Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Najeem Salaam, finished in third position.
With the declaration, Adeleke secures a fresh mandate as governor of the state.
After his declaration, jubilation erupted across the state, on Sunday, as residents trooped into the streets in their hundreds to celebrate the governor’s victory.
The announcement triggered spontaneous celebrations in Osogbo, Ede, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo, Ikirun and other parts of the state, with motorcyclists, motorists, market women, youths and middle-aged residents joining the carnival-like celebration.
In Osogbo, the state capital, the atmosphere was electrifying as supporters poured into major streets, singing, dancing and waving party insignia.
At the gate of the state House of Assembly, directly opposite the INEC office where the results were announced, a mammoth crowd gathered, turning the area into a theatre of jubilation.
Some supporters danced acrobatically, while others jumped, hugged one another and shouted in celebration. Motorcyclists and motorists also joined the procession, intermittently blaring their horns as they moved through the streets.
At Olaiya Junction, regarded as the heart of Osogbo, die-hard supporters of the governor sang popular songs associated with his political movement, including: “Ija dopin, ogun sitan, Olugbala jagun’molu, ori ayo la o maa ko, Hallelujah!”
The songs reverberated across the busy junction as supporters danced energetically, with some climbing on vehicles and waving their hands in triumph.
The jubilation was even more dramatic in Ede, the governor’s countryhome, where residents took to the streets in what could best be described as a carnival.
Vehicles moved in procession through major streets, while enthusiastic supporters stood on vehicle roofs, chanting “Imole! Imole,!” and waving to cheering crowds.
The streets of Ede were filled with people celebrating the victory of their son, with motorcycles and vehicles forming long convoys as supporters sang, danced and exchanged embraces.
Some supporters reportedly moved from one street to another, turning the town into a sea of celebration as residents displayed posters and symbols associated with the governor.
Governor dedicates victory to God, Osun people
Shortly after his victory, the governor appealed for the restoration of peace and unity among Osun people to heal the wounds of pre-election violence, even as he promised to expand state development and widen the nets of good governance.
The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, warned against post-election attacks on rivals and avoidance of counter-attacks from old wounds, urging forgiveness and restoration of communal love after weeks of gun attacks across the state.
While observing a minute silence for victims of the pre-election violence, the re-elected governor tasked community leaders and traditional institutions to embark on peace building in their communities as “the issues have been settled by the grace of God and people.”
The governor, who dedicated the victory to God and the people of the state, commended the resilience, the strong will and unwavering commitment to democracy, promising the people that he would not disappoint them.
“As you have trusted me with second term in office, I will reinforce my strong points and correct my errors. Osun will witness further accelerated development and growth under my renewed five-point agenda,” the governor reassured.
The governor further commended “Mr President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election,” declaring that “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.
“In this race, there is no victor, no vanquished. I extend olive branch to my co-contestants. I am the governor of all Osun people,” declaring that “My vision remains taking Osun from a civil service state to an industrial state and an investment destination.”
APC calls for calm
However, in a separate statement, the state chapter of the APC said the leadership of the party is currently studying the results of the election in each of the 332 wards, with a view to exploring further the allowed constitutional window of opportunity in this regard.
In a statement, the party’s spokesperson, Chief Kola Olabisi, said: “We are not unaware of the fact that election is a process which begins at the registration of the 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 as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2026 as amended.
“We commend the steadfastness, sagacity and loyalty of the numerous members and supporters of our party for their contributions in getting to this juncture in the political history of the state.”
“We make bold to state categorically that as a progressive party, which is founded on the unalloyed principle of the rule of law, fairness and justice, we shall not hesitate, without further delay, to explore the window allowed by the extant Electoral Act after the due consultation with the team of our lawyers based on their professional advice.
“The new development is a beauty of democracy with reference to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s declared governorship election results in the state, which would not propel us to deviate from embracing the culture of the rule of law.
“As a result of the foregoing, we are imploring our ever loyal members and supporters to remain cool and calm, while they carry on with their businesses and refuse to respond to any provocative action or inaction from any of the members of the ruling party across the state.
“It is necessary to assure our members and supporters not to despair about the current situation and have it in mind that it is not over until it is over.
“While we are appealing to the Nigeria Police Force to come to the aid and rescue of our members and supporters who are being needlessly molested by the ruling party, we are assuring them that we won’t have any cause or reason to abandon them.
“The current situation in the political history of the state is a passing phase which will soon become part of history as justice shall be done accordingly,” he concluded.