Ademola Adeleke has won re-election as governor of Osun State, defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to secure a fresh four-year term.
The Returning Officer for the election, Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke the winner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Collation Centre in Osogbo early Sunday.
Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled 511,067 votes.
Oyebamiji of the APC came second with 444,815 votes, while Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) finished third with 17,180 votes.
“For that, Adeleke Ademola Jackson of the Accord Party, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is hereby returned elected,” Ogunwole said at the collation centre.
According to the Returning Officer, 1,005,800 votes were cast across the 30 local government areas of Osun State, with 985,079 valid votes recorded. A total of 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the election.
Adeleke’s victory marks a significant political turnaround after he left the PDP in December, the platform on which he secured his first term.
Explaining his decision to join Accord, Adeleke said the party’s philosophy aligned with his focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare.
“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare. Since I joined, I have been fascinated by the philosophy of this great party,” the governor said while announcing his defection.
“The primary essence of a government is the welfare and well-being of the people.”
Tight Race Marked By Tension
The election brought months of campaigning to an end, with 15 political parties participating in the contest.
The build-up to the poll was marked by political tension, accusations and counter-accusations, with the ruling party and the APC blaming each other over alleged killings and destruction of property.
Security was subsequently tightened across the state.
Police authorities deployed 15,000 personnel alongside 30 commissioners of police to support security operations during the election.
Force Public Relations Officer Anietie Iniedu also disclosed that a police helicopter and drone unit were deployed for aerial surveillance.
President Bola Tinubu had directed the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and other security agency chiefs to ensure adequate security at polling units and prevent disruptions.
“I have charged the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security outfits taking part in the election to provide maximum security at polling units. No room should be allowed for troublemakers to disrupt the process,” Tinubu said.
He also urged INEC to ensure the “orderly conduct of the election”.
“The election must be transparent, free and fair. I urge INEC to ensure the integrity of the process,” the President said in a statement issued a day before the poll.
EFCC Account Freeze Sparks Concern
The election was also preceded by controversy over the freezing of an account belonging to the Osun State Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The move raised concerns days before the poll before President Tinubu directed the anti-graft agency to unfreeze the account, describing the timing of the action as embarrassing.
The governorship race faced another late development when a court ordered INEC to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the election.
The decision created additional logistical challenges for the electoral commission, which had to adjust its preparations, including the production and distribution of election materials.
INEC National Commissioner supervising Osun State, Kunle Ajayi, said the commission printed millions of ballot papers within 36 hours following the late court decision.
“In spite of the fact that the thing came late, we were able to print all ballot papers, millions, within 36 hours, because hours had no meaning to us anymore. Days had no meaning to us anymore,” Ajayi said on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“We were working day and night as if it were day. So, we were able to complete the printing, and we moved all the materials, all the sensitive materials, ballots, everything, to the Central Bank yesterday, late last night.”
He added that the judgment came after sensitive materials had already been printed and moved to the appropriate locations.
“In spite of the late judgment, which came very late after we had printed all the sensitive materials and moved them to the appropriate quarters, the judgment just came on a Friday, and we had only Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” he said.
Supporters Celebrate Adeleke Victory
Adeleke’s victory triggered celebrations across Osun State, particularly in Osogbo, the state capital, and Ede, his hometown.
Supporters poured onto the streets, singing, dancing and chanting in celebration as the governor secured another term in office.
Celebrations had begun in parts of the state as results were announced from polling units and local government areas where Adeleke recorded strong support.
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