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INEC Declares Ademola Adeleke Winner of Osun Governorship Election 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the Osun State governorship election after he received the highest votes across all local government areas.
Ademola Adeleke, the incumbent governor of Osun State, voted on Saturday at his polling unit, expressing confidence in his victory in the ongoing election. He arrived at the polling unit at approximately 8:32 a.m., accompanied by numerous supporters, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
After casting his vote, Adeleke raised concerns regarding the electoral process, alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) intended to bypass crucial collation steps at the ward and local government levels. He insisted that results should adhere to established procedures to ensure transparency.
In a call to action, Adeleke urged voters to protect their votes during the election. He emphasized his belief that he was winning with a wide margin, supported by what he described as a connection with both God and the electorate.
Following their voting, Adeleke's wife expressed optimism about her husband's re-election. She reported that early reports indicated a peaceful conduct of the electoral exercise at their polling station in Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9, Ede.
As the election progressed, Adeleke appealed to President Bola Tinubu to leverage his influence to ensure the safeguarding of votes by security agencies tasked with maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
On Sunday, after all local government results were collated, the INEC announced that Ademola Adeleke received the highest number of votes, officially declaring him the winner of the governorship election in Osun State. This announcement was made by the returning officer, Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, signaling the conclusion of the electoral process.