Ebenezer Adurokiya and Micheal Chukwuebuka Reporting From Osogbo
Against all odds, Ademola Adeleke triumphs over APC rival Bola Oyebamiji with decisive 19 LGA wins
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, as the winner of the Osun State governorship election, securing his return to office for a second term.
The Returning Officer, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, who serves as Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, made the declaration on Sunday morning following an overnight collation of results from all 30 local government areas across the state.
According to the official figures, Adeleke polled a total of 511,067 votes, comfortably defeating his closest rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 444,815 votes.
“Having satisfied the requirements of the law, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is hereby declared winner and is returned elected,” Professor Ogunwole announced, signing the declaration before a gathering of party agents and observers at the collation centre.
The victory was built on a commanding performance across the state, with Adeleke winning 19 local government areas compared to Oyebamiji’s 11.
The governor secured particularly impressive margins in Ede North and Osogbo LGAs, where he amassed 35,427 and 36,480 votes respectively, while his strongest showing came from the Osogbo stronghold.
In contrast, Oyebamiji claimed victory in Irewole LGA with a substantial 29,972 votes, and also secured Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ilesa East, and Olorunda LGAs, among others.
The results also showed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polling a distant third across all 30 LGAs, with their highest tally coming from Ejigbo LGA where they secured 5,053 votes.
The election, which took place on Saturday, had been closely watched as a test of the Accord Party’s popularity following Adeleke’s first term in office.
The outcome represents a significant endorsement of the governor’s policies and performance since assuming office.
Tribune Online reports that celebrations have already begun in parts of Osogbo, the state capital, with supporters of the Accord Party taking to the streets to mark the victory.
Meanwhile, the APC campaign team has yet to issue an official statement regarding the outcome.
