The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally declared Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party the winner of the Osun State governorship election.
Professor Joshua Ogunwole, the State Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, made the announcement on Sunday after the completion of collation from all 30 local government areas.
Adeleke polled a total of 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes. The margin of victory stands at 66,252 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third with 17,180 votes.
The incumbent governor won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji claimed the remaining 11.
Adeleke recorded decisive victories in his strongholds of Ede North (35,427 votes to 10,283) and Ede South (26,188 to 6,219). He also carried the state capital, Osogbo, with 36,480 votes against Oyebamiji’s 30,474, as well as Iwo (27,085 to 19,660) and Ife East (27,201 to 18,600).
Other councils won by the Accord candidate included Boluwaduro, Ife North, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Orolu, Oriade, Odo-Otin, Ifelodun, Ila, Aiyedire, Egbedore, Aiyedaade and Ejigbo.
Oyebamiji’s strongest performances came in Irewole, where he polled 29,972 votes to Adeleke’s 10,934, and in Olorunda (24,671 to 23,514). The APC also won Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun, Obokun, Atakunmosa West, Atakunmosa East, Isokan, Ola-Oluwa and Ife South.
The election was held on Saturday 15 August 2026. Adeleke, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party ahead of the poll, has now secured a second term as governor of Osun State.
Professor Ogunwole declared Adeleke duly elected after confirming that he satisfied the constitutional requirements of securing the highest number of votes and meeting the geographical spread threshold.
By Temo Jude
