The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party winner of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Adeleke, who sought re-election for a second term, defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, after securing the highest number of votes in the election held on Saturday, August 15.
According to the results declared by INEC, Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji recorded 444,815 votes, giving the incumbent governor a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) finished third with 17,180 votes, according to the announced results.
ADELEKE WINS 19 LGAs, OYEBAMIJI TAKES 11
The results showed a closely contested election across the state’s 30 local government areas.
Adeleke won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11 LGAs.
Despite the strong performance of the APC candidate across several areas, Adeleke maintained an overall lead in the final tally to secure a second term in office.
ELECTION RESULTS
The final figures announced by INEC placed the leading candidates as follows:
– Ademola Adeleke – Accord: 511,067 votes
– Bola Oyebamiji – APC: 444,815 votes
– Najeem Salaam – ADC: 17,180 votes
The election attracted significant attention because of the intense political contest between the incumbent governor and the APC candidate, as well as heightened political activity in the state in the days leading to the poll.
TINUBU CONGRATULATES ADELEKE
Following the declaration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated Adeleke on his victory and reaffirmed the importance of democratic institutions and the peaceful transfer of electoral mandates.
The President also confirmed that he spoke with the Osun governor by telephone after the election.
Tinubu said the outcome demonstrated that democracy remains capable of producing results through the ballot box and expressed confidence that democratic governance would continue to flourish in the country.
ADELEKE SECURES SECOND TERM
The victory gives Adeleke another four-year mandate to lead Osun State.
Reacting to the result, the governor described his victory as a victory for the people of Osun and a confirmation of their support for his administration.
He is expected to continue his administration’s programmes in areas including infrastructure, education, agriculture and economic development.
The election is also significant nationally as it comes less than a year before the 2027 general elections and provides an indication of the political strength of the major parties in the state.
AIV NEWS ANALYSIS
Adeleke’s victory represents a major political development in Osun State, particularly given the strength of the APC challenge and the relatively narrow margin separating the two leading candidates compared with the overall size of the electorate.
The result will likely have implications for political alignments in Osun ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For now, attention is expected to shift from the election campaign to the transition into Adeleke’s second term and the administration’s priorities for the next four years.
AIV NEWS will continue to provide verified updates on the Osun governorship election, the official results and the political developments that follow.
