Adeleke Holds Osun, Beats Oyebamiji By 66,252 Votes

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party winner of the 2026 Osun State governorship election, securing a fresh four-year mandate after a closely contested poll.

Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. The result gives the incumbent a winning margin of 66,252 votes.

The State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, formally declared Adeleke winner after the completion of the collation of results from the state’s 30 local government areas.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished a distant third with 17,180 votes.

Adeleke Wins 19 LGAs

The final results showed that Adeleke secured victory in 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11, underlining the competitive nature of the election.

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Adeleke recorded strong performances in several areas, including Osogbo, Ede North, Ede South, Iwo and Ife East, helping him build the margin that ultimately separated him from the APC candidate.

Oyebamiji, however, also secured significant victories in several APC-leaning areas, demonstrating that the contest was far from a one-sided election.

Second-Term Mandate

The victory gives Adeleke another four years at the helm of Osun State and represents a renewed endorsement from voters following a highly competitive campaign.

The incumbent’s ability to retain a majority of the state’s local government areas proved decisive, despite the strong challenge mounted by the APC.

For Oyebamiji and the APC, the result leaves the party with substantial support across the state, having crossed the 400,000-vote mark but falling short of the incumbent’s total.

The ADC’s Najeem Salaam, despite expectations that his party could emerge as a significant alternative in the contest, was unable to bridge the gap between the two leading candidates.

With INEC’s declaration now concluded, attention is expected to shift from the election campaign to Adeleke’s next phase in office.

The governor will now face the task of consolidating his mandate and responding to the expectations of voters across the state, including areas where the opposition recorded strong support.

The outcome also provides the APC with an opportunity to reassess its strategy in Osun, particularly ahead of Nigeria’s broader political activities leading into 2027.

For Adeleke, the 66,252-vote victory margin represents more than a numerical advantage. It gives him a fresh mandate to continue his administration and an opportunity to strengthen his political standing in Osun ahead of the next electoral cycle.

(TVC)