Adeleke Hails Tinubu

Author: Gist Correspondent

Governor Ademola Adeleke has described his re-election as a victory for democracy and the people of Osun State after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of Saturday's governorship election.

Speaking shortly after the declaration on Sunday, Adeleke expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, revealing that the President personally called to congratulate him on his victory.

"I want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President. He has called me and he has congratulated me. Thank you Mr. President for making sure democracy lives on because you fought for it," Adeleke said.

The governor also thanked the people of Osun for renewing his mandate and dedicated the victory to God, saying the election reflected the will of the electorate.

Extending an olive branch to his opponents, Adeleke said he expected the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, to congratulate him, insisting that the election should produce “no victor, no vanquished.”

Earlier, INEC had declared Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, winner of the keenly contested governorship election.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, announced the final results after collation from all 30 local government areas of the state.

According to the commission, Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes.

The result gave the incumbent governor a winning margin of 66,252 votes.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Senator Najeem Salaam, came a distant third with 17,180 votes.

Results released by INEC showed that Adeleke won in 19 of the state's 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victories in 11 councils.

Adeleke dominated in key strongholds including Ede North, Ede South, Osogbo, Iwo, Ife East, Ife Central, Ifelodun, Oriade, Egbedore, Odo Otin, Ilesa West, Ila, Ayedaade, Ife North, Orolu, Boluwaduro, Ayedire, Ifedayo and Ejigbo.

The APC candidate emerged victorious in Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun, Obokun, Atakumosa West, Irewole, Atakumosa East, Isokan, Olaoluwa, Ife South and Olorunda.

Adeleke's victory was driven largely by overwhelming margins in his traditional strongholds, particularly Ede North and Ede South, where he built a substantial lead that proved decisive despite APC's victories in several councils.

The governor also posted impressive results in Osogbo, the state capital, and across much of the Ife axis, consolidating enough votes to secure a statewide advantage.

Although the APC maintained its dominance in several traditional strongholds and remained a formidable opposition force, its margins were insufficient to erase Adeleke's commanding lead.

The outcome marks Adeleke's return for another term as governor, with the election underscoring the importance of overall vote totals rather than the number of local government areas won.

With the declaration, attention is expected to shift to post-election reconciliation and preparations for the governor's second term in office.