The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Governor Ademola Adeleke winner of the 2026 Osun State governorship election held on Saturday across the state.
The incumbent governor, who contested under the platform of the Accord Party, secured a total of 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 444,815 votes, with a margin of 66,252 votes separating both candidates in the keenly contested election.
The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, announced the final results at the headquarters of the commission in Osogbo at about 7:50 a.m. on Sunday after collation of results from all 30 local government areas in the state.
According to the final collation figures released by the electoral body, the Osun governor won 19 of the 30 local government areas, while his main opponent secured victory in the remaining 11 councils, giving the Accord candidate a clear lead across the three senatorial districts.
In his formal declaration, the INEC Returning Officer stated that Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and returned elected as governor of Osun State for a second term in office.
The re-elected governor had earlier served as governor under the Peoples Democratic Party before moving to the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 poll. His latest victory marks a continuation of his administration which began in 2022 and has focused on various developmental projects across the state.
DailyVista247 gathered that President Bola Tinubu had placed a congratulatory call to the governor even before the formal announcement by the electoral body at the collation centre, a move described by campaign officials as a demonstration of commitment to free and fair elections.
Officials of the Imole Campaign Council commended the electoral process, describing it as transparent, free and fair after the declaration. The governorship poll was conducted across the 30 local government areas on Saturday, with results uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing portal.
The commission reported that over 98 percent of results had been uploaded before the final declaration on Sunday morning, showing improved efficiency in the process compared to previous elections in the state.
Political observers in Osun noted that the election was one of the most competitive in recent history, with both the Accord and APC candidates campaigning extensively across towns and communities. The outcome has been described as a reflection of the will of the people of the state who came out to exercise their franchise.
The newly re-elected governor is expected to continue his administration's agenda for development in Osun State, focusing on infrastructure renewal, digital economy growth and welfare programmes for residents across all senatorial districts and local councils.
