By Rareview News Report
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, winner of Saturday’s governorship election, securing a second term after defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party, polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji scored 444,815 votes, giving the incumbent a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.
The result was announced early Sunday by the Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, after the collation of results from the state’s 30 local government areas.
Adeleke won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji prevailed in 11.
The victory marks Adeleke’s second consecutive governorship triumph in Osun, but this time on a different political platform. He won his first term in 2022 as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), before defecting to the Accord Party and securing its ticket for the 2026 election.
The governor, in his reaction to the result, described his re-election as a “thank you” gesture from the people of Osun for what he called the delivery of the dividends of democracy. He dedicated the victory to the people of the state and called for peace after a keenly contested campaign.
Tinubu congratulates Adeleke
Among the first prominent Nigerians to congratulate the governor was President Bola Tinubu, who telephoned Adeleke after the declaration of the result.
According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the outcome reflected the will of the people and urged Adeleke to use his renewed mandate to unite the people of Osun State.
The President also commended INEC and the security agencies for the conduct of what he described as a peaceful and transparent election.
The gesture was significant given the intense political contest that preceded the poll, with the APC deploying a heavyweight campaign structure in its bid to reclaim the state.
Atiku hails voters’ vigilance
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also congratulated Adeleke, describing the result as an expression of the wishes of the people of Osun.
Atiku praised voters for turning out in large numbers and remaining vigilant, arguing that the election demonstrated the capacity of citizens to protect their ballots.
He said the Osun experience should serve as a lesson ahead of the 2027 general elections, while urging Adeleke to use his renewed mandate to deepen good governance in the state.
Atiku, however, interpreted the result as evidence of growing dissatisfaction with the APC-led Federal Government, saying the Osun election offered an indication of what could happen in the 2027 general elections.
Obi: ‘When the people stand, democracy wins’
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi also congratulated Adeleke, describing the outcome as an important victory for democracy.
In a message titled “Osun: When the People Stand, Democracy Wins,” Obi said the people of Osun had spoken with courage and clarity and reaffirmed their constitutional power to choose their leaders.
He particularly praised young people in the state for what he described as their peaceful vigilance in defending their votes.
Obi said the lesson from Osun was that democracy becomes stronger when citizens participate actively, remain vigilant and insist that their votes count. He urged Nigerians to carry the same spirit into the 2027 elections.
Kwankwaso, governors and groups join congratulations
Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso also congratulated Adeleke, saying the result demonstrated that the will of the people must prevail in a democracy.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), through its Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, congratulated Adeleke and commended the people of Osun for their participation.
The forum described the election as another demonstration of the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy and expressed confidence that Adeleke would build on the achievements of his first term.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji similarly described Adeleke’s victory as a reflection of the wishes of the majority of Osun voters and urged him to be magnanimous in victory and carry other contestants along.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said the result was a victory for democracy and the people of Osun, describing Adeleke’s re-election as a reward for his commitment to governance and development.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti also congratulated Adeleke and the people of Osun on what he described as the peaceful and successful conduct of the election.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, also hailed Adeleke’s victory, saying the election reaffirmed the principle that sovereignty ultimately resides with the people.
The PDP, despite Adeleke having contested under Accord, also congratulated the governor and urged political actors to respect the outcome and concentrate on the welfare of Osun residents.
Davido: ‘We did it, Uncle’
For Adeleke’s nephew and Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, the result was a deeply personal political victory.
Shortly after INEC declared his uncle the winner, Davido took to X to celebrate, posting a brief but emphatic message: “We did it, Uncle.”
Davido had played an active role in the governor’s re-election campaign, serving as chairman of the Imole Youth Mobilisation Campaign Council. He had also formally joined the Accord Party in Osun and publicly campaigned for his uncle’s return to office.
His post came after a closely fought campaign in which he became one of the most prominent celebrity figures involved in Nigerian electoral politics.
A bigger margin for Adeleke
The 2026 result also strengthened Adeleke’s electoral position compared with his 2022 victory.
In the 2022 election, Adeleke defeated the then-incumbent APC governor, Gboyega Oyetola, by 28,344 votes, polling 403,371 votes against Oyetola’s 375,027.
This time, his margin increased to 66,252 votes, while his total vote also rose significantly to 511,067.
The election therefore represents both a personal victory for Adeleke and a significant political setback for the APC, which had made reclaiming Osun a major priority ahead of the 2027 general elections. With the result now declared, attention is expected to shift from the fiercely contested campaign to governance, reconciliation and the governor’s challenge of converting his renewed mandate into tangible development for the people of Osun State.