Governor Ademola Adeleke has secured a second term as the Governor of Osun State, defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a closely contested governorship election.

The Returning Officer for the election, Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke the winner early Sunday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation centre in Osogbo.

Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji of the APC scored 444,815 votes. Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 17,180 votes.

Ogunwole said 1,005,800 votes were cast across the state’s 30 local government areas, with 985,079 recorded as valid votes.

“With the results declared and the requirements of the law satisfied, Adeleke Ademola Jackson of the Accord Party is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” the Returning Officer announced.

A Second-Term Victory on a New Platform

Adeleke’s victory is particularly notable because he contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, having defected from the PDP in December.

The governor previously won the 2022 election under the PDP and has now secured another four-year mandate under a different political platform.

Explaining his decision to join Accord, Adeleke had said the party’s focus on welfare aligned with his administration’s emphasis on the well-being of workers and citizens.

A Tense Road to Election Day

The election followed months of intense political campaigns, accusations and counter-accusations between major political parties.

Security was significantly strengthened across Osun State, with thousands of police personnel deployed alongside aerial surveillance resources to prevent violence and disruption.

President Bola Tinubu had also directed security agencies to ensure adequate protection for voters and polling units while urging INEC to conduct a transparent and credible election.

The election featured 15 political parties, while the late inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by court order created additional logistical challenges for INEC.

EFCC Controversy and Political Tension

The election was also preceded by controversy surrounding the freezing of an account belonging to the Osun State Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The development generated widespread debate because of its timing, prompting President Tinubu to direct that the account be unfrozen.

Despite the political tensions and logistical challenges, voting proceeded across the state.

Celebrations Across Osun

Following the announcement of Adeleke’s victory, supporters took to the streets in several parts of the state to celebrate.

Large celebrations were reported in Osogbo, the state capital, and Ede, Adeleke’s hometown, with supporters singing, dancing and waving party symbols.

The result gives Adeleke another four years to pursue his administration’s agenda and places the focus on how he will use the renewed mandate to address the expectations of Osun residents.

For Adeleke, the election represents not only a second-term victory, but also a significant political achievement: winning re-election after changing political platforms.