Osun Poll: With 95% Results Uploaded, Adeleke in Unassailable Lead

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is poised to win the Osun State governorship election, comfortably leading his opponents as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collates results. As of early Monday morning, with 95.99% of polling units reporting, Adeleke had secured 509,057 votes, or 51.7% of the total. This places him over 80,000 votes ahead of his closest rival, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 425,879 votes (43.2%).

Adeleke's strong performance extends across the state, as he leads in 21 out of 30 Local Government Areas. His campaign successfully fended off efforts by prominent APC figures, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and approximately 10 APC governors who had traveled to Osun to campaign for Oyebamiji. Notable among the campaigners were Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).

The election, while not characterized by widespread bloodshed, was marked by tension and isolated incidents. Reports indicate pockets of violence, alleged vote-buying, and voter intimidation in some areas. Despite these challenges, INEC reported that 207 polling units experienced minor delays in opening. Meanwhile, prominent political figures like former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and ex-APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore saw their respective polling units won by opposing parties, highlighting the dynamic political landscape of the state.

INEC's Result Viewing Portal (IReV) has been instrumental in the transparent collation process, with results from 3,612 polling units uploaded. The election's outcome, with Adeleke's substantial lead, suggests a decisive victory for the Accord Party, despite the significant efforts by the APC to retain control of the state.