FULL LIST: Winners and losers of Osun governorship election
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has been re-elected for a second term in the Osun governorship election, defeating his closest challenger.
- The election, marked by intense campaigns and some pre-election violence, concluded with Adeleke securing 511,067 votes against his opponent's 444,815.
- Key figures celebrating the victory include the Accord Party, Afrobeats star Davido (Adeleke's nephew), the Ataoja of Osogbo, and the Timi of Ede, all of whom played roles in supporting Adeleke's re-election bid.
Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has secured a second term in office following the Osun governorship election held on August 15, 2026. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke the winner after intense campaigns and political activities across the state's 30 Local Government Areas.
The Accord Party The victory marked the first time the Accord Party has won a governorship election in Osun State.
Adeleke garnered 511,067 votes, defeating his main rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who received 444,815 votes. The margin of victory was 66,252 votes. The election concluded amidst controversies, allegations of pre-election violence, and bloodshed, underscoring the high stakes of the contest.
The victory is a significant achievement for the Accord Party, marking its first governorship win in Osun State. Adeleke, who was first elected in 2022 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before switching to the Accord Party, ran on a platform of continuity, emphasizing infrastructure projects, educational reforms, and grassroots engagement. His strong performance in his Ede base and other local government areas was crucial to his success.
He reportedly suspended aspects of his music commitments to lead youth mobilisation for the Imole campaign, appeared at rallies and used social media to urge vigilance and support.
Several prominent figures celebrated Adeleke's re-election. Afrobeats star Davido, the governor's nephew, played a high-profile role in youth mobilization for the 'Imole' campaign, suspending music commitments to attend rallies and use social media to garner support. Traditional rulers, including the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Laaroye, and the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, also publicly endorsed Adeleke, citing his developmental projects. The Ataoja of Osogbo reportedly faced threats for his support.
At a commissioning event, he stated that if he were a politician, he would have asked all Osogbo people to vote for Adeleke en masse.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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