The candidate of the Accord Party, Ademola Adeleke, has been declared the winner of the 2026 Osun State governorship election after securing 511,067 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the final result during the collation of results in Osogbo, the state capital, on Sunday morning.
Adeleke defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Oyebanji, who polled 444,815 votes in the keenly contested election.
The declaration followed the conclusion of the collation of results from the 30 local government areas of the state.
According to the figures announced by INEC, Adeleke emerged with a margin of 66,252 votes over his closest challenger.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate finished a distant third with 17,180 votes, while the African Action Congress (AAC) secured 1,458 votes.
The election recorded significant voter participation, although the number of accredited voters remained considerably lower than the total number of registered voters.
INEC said a total of 2,339,544 voters were registered for the election, while 1,010,684 voters were accredited to participate in the exercise.
The results bring to an end a closely watched election that had been preceded by intense political campaigns, allegations of violence and heightened tension among supporters of the major political parties.
The contest had attracted considerable attention because of the strength of the leading parties and the high-profile political figures involved in the campaign.
Throughout the electioneering period, political parties traded accusations over alleged intimidation, violence and attempts to disrupt the democratic process.
Security concerns were particularly prominent in the final days before the election, with various political actors calling on security agencies to ensure the safety of voters, electoral officials and party agents.
Despite the concerns, voters turned out across the state to exercise their constitutional right to choose the next governor.
The declaration by the electoral commission now formally establishes Adeleke as the winner of the governorship contest.
His victory represents a major political development in the state, particularly given the intense competition between the leading political forces during the campaign.
The APC had mounted an aggressive campaign for its candidate, Oyebanji, with several senior party leaders, governors and federal lawmakers campaigning across Osun.
President Bola Tinubu had also urged residents to participate peacefully in the election and vote for candidates of their choice without fear or intimidation.
The African Democratic Congress also intensified its campaign in the state, presenting its candidate as an alternative to the two dominant political camps.
However, the final results placed the ADC candidate far behind the two leading contenders.
Following the announcement of the results, attention is expected to shift towards the next steps by the defeated candidates and their political parties.
Under Nigeria’s electoral framework, candidates who are dissatisfied with the conduct or outcome of an election have the right to challenge the result through the appropriate legal channels.
The election was also closely monitored by civil society groups, observers and other stakeholders who had repeatedly stressed the importance of transparency and respect for the voters’ mandate.
With INEC’s declaration, Ademola Adeleke has secured another electoral mandate from the people of Osun State.
The final outcome also underscores the competitive nature of electoral politics in the state, where political contests have historically attracted strong participation and intense rivalry.
INEC is expected to complete the necessary documentation and formal processes associated with the declaration and return of the winner.
The successful conclusion of the collation means the focus will now move towards governance, accountability and the ability of the victorious administration to fulfil its campaign promises.
For Adeleke and his supporters, the declaration marks the culmination of an election campaign that generated significant public interest across Osun State.
For the opposition, the result provides an opportunity to assess the campaign and electoral strategy while considering any possible legal challenge.
As the political dust settles, stakeholders are expected to call for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence among supporters of the different parties.
The election may have produced a winner and losers, but the larger responsibility remains the protection of democratic institutions and the peaceful development of Osun State.
With 511,067 votes, Ademola Adeleke has been officially returned by INEC as the winner of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
