Tinubu: Adeleke’s victory shows democracy is deepening

President Bola Tinubu has described Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the Osun State governorship election as evidence that democracy is thriving in Nigeria.

Tinubu congratulated Adeleke after the governor was declared winner of Saturday’s election, saying the result reflected the will of Osun voters.

Adeleke, the Accord candidate, secured 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam came third with 17,180 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, declared Adeleke winner at about 7:49am on Sunday.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said he had spoken with Adeleke by telephone to congratulate him.

The President urged the governor to show magnanimity in victory by reaching across political divides and uniting the people of Osun behind a common development agenda.

Tinubu also commended the other candidates for their conduct, saying their participation strengthened Nigeria’s democratic culture.

He praised INEC and the security agencies for conducting what he described as a peaceful and transparent election.

A total of 2,339,544 voters were registered, while 1,010,684 were accredited. The election produced 985,079 valid votes.

Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11.

Adeleke reaffirms support for Tinubu

Adeleke thanked Osun voters for renewing his mandate and reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s bid for a second term as President in 2027.

The governor also commended Tinubu for his commitment to a free, fair and credible election.

Speaking after his victory was declared, Adeleke called for peace and unity across the state, particularly following weeks of violence and political tension during the election campaign.

He urged his opponents to accept the outcome and appealed to residents to avoid retaliatory attacks.

Adeleke also called on traditional rulers and community leaders to promote peace and reconciliation across their communities.

The governor dedicated his victory to God and the people of Osun, promising to consolidate his achievements and address areas where his administration had fallen short.

He said his administration would pursue accelerated development under his renewed five-point agenda.

Adeleke also extended an olive branch to his opponents, declaring that he was governor of all Osun residents.

He said his long-term ambition remained to transform Osun from a civil service state into an industrial hub and investment destination.

Meanwhile, a video showing former President Olusegun Obasanjo visiting Adeleke surfaced online after the election. The two men were seen dancing during the visit, although details of their discussion were not immediately known.

APC considers legal challenge

The APC said it was reviewing the election results across the state’s 332 wards and consulting its legal team before deciding whether to challenge the outcome.

The party’s Osun spokesman, Kola Olabisi, said the conclusion of the electoral process did not prevent aggrieved parties from seeking redress before the Election Petition Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

He said the party would explore the legal options available under the Electoral Act 2026 if its lawyers advised it to do so.

The APC urged its supporters to remain calm and avoid actions that could trigger violence.

It also appealed to security agencies to protect its members and supporters, alleging that some of them were being subjected to harassment.

Salaam congratulates Adeleke

Salaam, who finished third and failed to win any local government area, including his home council of Ejigbo, congratulated Adeleke on his re-election.

The ADC candidate urged the governor to use his second term to reflect on the shortcomings of his administration and improve governance.

Salaam said the election represented the choice of Osun voters and that the decision should be respected regardless of political differences.

He called on politicians and residents to embrace peace, unity and brotherhood, stressing that political disagreements should not threaten the stability of the state.

Salaam said politics should not be treated as a do-or-die affair and urged all stakeholders to accept the election outcome in the spirit of democracy.