Adeleke receives certificate of return, promises to unite Osun
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his victory in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Adeleke defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, with 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes.
The governor received the certificate at the INEC office in Osogbo on Wednesday in the presence of members of his cabinet, lawmakers, friends and supporters. The certificate was presented by Kunle Ajayi, INEC National Commissioner for the South-West.
In his address titled “A time to heal, unite and build”, Adeleke thanked the people of Osun for supporting the democratic process and said the certificate represented a renewed mandate from the people.
He, however, acknowledged the violence recorded during the election, noting that lives were lost while some residents were injured and properties destroyed.
Adeleke said his family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide full scholarships up to university level for the children and dependants of those who died in the electoral violence.
He also announced the establishment of a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund by the state government to support verified victims and affected families.
According to him, the fund would operate without discrimination based on political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.
A Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by Adewale Olumide Egbedun, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, will oversee the identification of victims and distribution of assistance.
Adeleke said the initiative was humanitarian rather than political, stressing that the election was over and the focus should now shift to governance and reconciliation.
He promised to continue his administration’s efforts in infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare, youth empowerment and economic development, with emphasis on accountability, inclusion and transparency.
