Governor Ademola Adeleke has been declared the winner of the 2026 Osun State governorship election, securing another four year term after a closely contested election that attracted significant attention across the state.
The declaration followed the completion of results from all 30 local government areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Adeleke recorded 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who secured 444,815 votes.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished in third position with 17,180 votes, according to the final figures provided in the election results. Adeleke’s 66,252-vote margin gave the incumbent a clear lead over his main challenger.
The governor secured victory in 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11. The outcome brought an end to weeks of intense campaigning and heightened political activity as voters prepared to determine whether Adeleke would remain in office for another term.
Celebrations broke out in several parts of Osun following the announcement. Supporters gathered in areas including Osogbo and Ede, singing, dancing and waving party flags as news of Adeleke’s victory spread.
In Osogbo, some supporters who had remained close to the collation centre reportedly moved into the streets after the final declaration. Others travelled towards Ede, Adeleke’s hometown where the result was also greeted with excitement.
For Adeleke’s supporters, the victory represents another stage in a political journey that has been marked by fierce competition and significant challenges. Osun has traditionally been one of Nigeria’s politically competitive states, with governorship elections frequently attracting national attention.
Adeleke first became governor after defeating the then incumbent Gboyega Oyetola in the 2022 governorship election. His latest victory means he will now continue his administration for another four years, giving him additional time to pursue his programmes and policies for the state.
The 2026 election was also closely watched because of broader questions surrounding electoral transparency and the publication of results. INEC used its Result Viewing Portal, known as IReV, to upload polling-unit results, providing voters, political parties and observers with a digital avenue for monitoring results as they became available.
The result uploading process became a subject of public discussion during the election. Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, questioned delays in the appearance of results on the IReV platform and called for greater transparency from the electoral commission.
Davido’s involvement attracted particular attention because of his relationship with the governor. The singer, who is Adeleke’s nephew, had publicly supported his uncle during the election campaign. His concerns over the result-uploading process therefore generated considerable interest among supporters and observers following developments online.
Despite the concerns raised during the process, the official collation continued. Rather than relying on unofficial figures circulating on social media, INEC proceeded with its established collation process before the Returning Officer, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, announced the final result at the commission’s collation centre in Osogbo.
The completion of the process subsequently shifted public attention from uncertainty over the results to Adeleke’s victory. Reports from parts of the state indicated that residents and supporters welcomed the announcement, with celebrations particularly noticeable in areas regarded as strongholds of the governor.
Davido also joined the celebrations after INEC formally declared his uncle the winner. The singer reacted to the outcome on X, expressing excitement over Adeleke’s return to office after the closely watched contest.
The election has now opened another chapter in Osun State’s political history. While the campaign period featured intense competition, public scrutiny and concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, the final declaration established Adeleke as the winner based on the results collated by INEC.
With his re-election secured, attention will now turn to the governor’s second term agenda and the expectations of Osun residents. Supporters who celebrated the outcome see the result as a confirmation of their confidence in Adeleke, while the election itself provides another important test of Nigeria’s electoral institutions and the public’s demand for transparent result management.
For Adeleke and his supporters, the immediate focus is on the victory. After months of political campaigning, uncertainty and intense competition, the incumbent has secured a fresh mandate and will continue as governor of Osun State for another four-year term.
