Osun 2026: Adeleke Defeats APC’s Oyebamiji to Secure Second Term

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has secured a fresh four-year mandate after defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the governorship election.

The Returning Officer for the election, Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke the winner early Sunday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Collation Centre in Osogbo.

According to the results announced by INEC, Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji of the APC finished second with 444,815 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came a distant third with 17,180 votes.

Ogunwole said a total of 1,005,800 votes were cast across the 30 local government areas of the state, with 985,079 votes declared valid. He added that 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the election.

The declaration marked a significant political victory for Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which he won his first term in office, in December.

In his reaction to the result, Adeleke described his victory as a mandate from the people of Osun State and expressed gratitude to God and the electorate for entrusting him with another four years.

He commended voters for their resilience and commitment to democracy, promising not to disappoint them.

The governor also called for peace and reconciliation following the election, extending an olive branch to his opponents and declaring himself the governor of all Osun residents.

Adeleke particularly remembered victims of pre-election violence, observing a minute of silence for those who lost their lives. He called on traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to support efforts aimed at healing divisions and restoring unity across the state.

Looking ahead, the governor pledged to consolidate his administration’s achievements, address its shortcomings and accelerate development across Osun.

He said his administration would continue efforts to transform Osun from a predominantly civil-service state into an industrial hub and a more attractive destination for investment.

Adeleke also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support for what he described as a free and fair election, while commending democracy advocates and the media for their role in the electoral process.