The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, winner of the 2026 governorship election.
Adeleke of the Accord Party defeated his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to secure a second term in office.
The governor polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji scored 444,815 votes, giving Adeleke a winning margin of 66,215 votes.
The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Folasayo Salaam, came a distant third with 17,180 votes.
Salaam had entered the election as one of the candidates expected to potentially emerge as a third force, particularly following the backing he received from former Osun Governor and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
That expectation, however, did not translate into the numbers needed to seriously challenge the two leading candidates.
Adeleke’s victory means he becomes only the third governor in Osun State’s history to win a second term through an election.
He joins Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Rauf Aregbesola in the state’s political history, although Oyinlola’s tenure was later cut short following a court decision that nullified his election over irregularities.
Aregbesola subsequently succeeded Oyinlola and went on to secure a second term, completing eight years in office.
Adeleke’s re-election comes against the backdrop of a fiercely contested campaign and divisions within his own political camp.
The governor faced a challenge not only from the opposition but also from a faction of his party that appeared reluctant to back his re-election bid in the run-up to the poll.
Yet, the incumbent managed to retain his electoral base and mobilise significant support across the state.
His campaign also leaned heavily on his record in office and the personal connection he has built with many ordinary residents.
For Adeleke, the election became as much a referendum on his administration as it was a contest between political parties.
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