Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
The certificate was presented to the governor on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at a brief ceremony held at the INEC headquarters in Osogbo. It was presented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Professor Kunle Ajani.
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Adeleke thanked the people of Osun State for renewing his mandate. He said the victory belongs to all residents of the state, including workers, market men and women, youths, traditional and religious leaders, and all citizens who participated in the electoral process.
The governor however called for sober reflection over the violence recorded during the election. He noted that the incidents led to injuries, destruction of property and loss of lives in some parts of the state.
He announced that the state government will establish a N500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to support verified victims and families affected by the violence.
DailyVista247 gathered that a Verification and Relief Committee chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, will be responsible for identifying verified victims and overseeing the distribution of relief.
According to the governor, the intervention will be purely humanitarian and not political. He added that no eligible victim will be excluded based on political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.
Adeleke also paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the election, including Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass and Kolade Eluyera. He extended condolences to their families and prayed for the peaceful repose of the departed.
At a separate reception organized by workers in his honour, the governor disclosed that the Adeleke family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, will provide full scholarships up to university level for children and dependants of those who lost their lives in the electoral violence.
He urged residents to put the election behind them and unite for the development of the state. He assured that his administration will continue to focus on infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers' welfare, youth empowerment and economic development.
Adeleke also expressed appreciation to INEC and security agencies for their roles in the conduct of the election. He described the poll as credible and called for continued improvement in the electoral process.
The governor said his administration remains committed to accountability and transparency in the management of state resources. He promised to build on the achievements recorded in his first term and to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of Osun State.
