BREAKING: INEC Declares Adeleke Winner Of Osun Governorship Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, winner of the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and former Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji.
The governor was declared winner in the early hours of Sunday by the Returning Officer for the election, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, at the INEC Collation Centre in Osogbo, following the collation of results from the state’s 30 local government areas.
According to the final results announced by the electoral umpire, Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to emerge victorious, while Oyebamiji secured 444,815 votes.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came a distant third with 17,180 votes.
The election featured candidates of 15 political parties, with INEC reporting that 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the poll.
On Saturday, Adeleke had expressed confidence in retaining his seat as Osun State governor after casting his vote at Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9, in Ede North Local Government Area.
While speaking to journalists after voting, the governor said he was optimistic about his chances in the keenly contested election, urging voters to remain peaceful and allow the electoral process to run its course.
Similarly, Oyebamiji also expressed confidence in victory after casting his ballot at Ward 09, Unit 011, in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area.
Oyebamiji said he was satisfied with the process at his polling unit and remained hopeful that the outcome of the election would favour him.
Adeleke’s victory is significant as it came after he abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under whose platform he won his first term in office, and joined the Accord Party in December over PDP internal leadership crisis.
Explaining his decision at the time, Adeleke said the Accord Party’s philosophy of welfarism aligned with his administration’s emphasis on the welfare of citizens and workers.
The election was also conducted against the backdrop of heightened political tension and reported cases of violence in parts of the state during the campaign and election period.
Ahead of the poll, Adeleke had announced plans to establish an independent commission of inquiry into reported killings and other acts of violence linked to the election.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Friday through the state Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, the governor expressed condolences to families of victims of election-related violence and promised that the proposed commission would be constituted immediately after the election.
He said the commission would investigate the circumstances surrounding reported killings and acts of violence and recommend appropriate measures to ensure that those responsible were brought to justice, irrespective of their political affiliation or status.
“The election will come and go, but we will remain one people. We owe the dead justice, their families compassion, and the people of Osun a peaceful future,” Adeleke said.
He also pledged that the state government would establish a framework to support and compensate families who lost loved ones during the period of political violence.
“The commission will establish the circumstances surrounding these incidents and recommend appropriate actions to ensure that everyone responsible is brought to justice, regardless of political affiliation, position or influence.”
“The memories of all victims will be appropriately honoured. The election will come and go, but we will remain one people. We owe the dead justice, their families compassion, and the people of Osun a peaceful future,” he said.
