Adeleke Triumphs Again, Secures Second Term In Osun

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has secured a second term as Governor of Osun State after winning the keenly contested 2026 governorship election.

Adeleke was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling 511,067 votesin the election held across the state on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

His closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, scored 444,815 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished a distant third with 17,180 votes.

The result means Adeleke will remain in office for another four years, having first been elected governor in 2022 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Adeleke Wins 19 LGAs

The Accord candidate secured victory in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won the remaining 11 LGAs.

The final results were declared at the state collation centre in Osogbo on Sunday, August 16, bringing to an end days of intense campaigning and a closely watched electoral contest.

Reports from the collation centre showed that Adeleke maintained a strong lead as results from the various local government areas were announced.

The election attracted significant attention because it pitted the incumbent governor against the APC candidate in what was widely regarded as one of the most competitive off-cycle governorship contests in the country.

From PDP to Accord

Adeleke contested the 2022 election under the PDP and defeated the then-incumbent APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

However, ahead of the 2026 election, the governor left the PDP and adopted the Accord Party as his political platform.

He emerged as Accord’s governorship candidate after winning the party’s primary in December 2025. Adeleke was the sole aspirant and secured 145 of the 150 votes cast by accredited delegates, with five ballots declared invalid.

His decision to join Accord was linked to the party’s welfare-oriented philosophy, which he said aligned with his administration’s emphasis on workers’ and citizens’ welfare.

The governor subsequently campaigned on an updated five-point agenda covering citizens and workers’ welfare, infrastructure, agro-industrial development, healthcare and education, and job creation.

Adeleke Defeats APC Challenge

The election was also a major test for the APC, which fielded Bola Oyebamiji as its candidate.

Oyebamiji, a former Commissioner for Finance in Osun State and former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, had campaigned on promises of reforms in areas including education, healthcare, agriculture, power and workers’ welfare.

The APC had expressed confidence throughout the campaign that it would defeat the incumbent governor and return the party to power in the state.

However, the final result gave Adeleke a margin of 66,252 votes over his closest challenger.

Tinubu Congratulates Adeleke

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Adeleke on his re-election, describing the outcome as a reflection of the will of Osun voters.

Tinubu reportedly spoke with the governor by telephone following the declaration and expressed confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

Adeleke has also reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s bid for a second term as President in the 2027 election, describing the President as a son of Osun State.

What Adeleke’s Victory Means for Osun

The victory gives Adeleke another four years to consolidate the programmes and projects initiated during his first term.

It also strengthens the Accord Party’s position in Osun politics and demonstrates the governor’s ability to secure re-election despite his departure from the PDP and the strong challenge mounted by the APC.

For the APC, the defeat represents another setback in its efforts to reclaim Osun State after losing the governorship election in 2022.

Meanwhile, the outcome has already triggered discussions about the wider political implications of the Osun election ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Adeleke Begins Second-Term Chapter

With his re-election now confirmed, attention will shift to the governor’s plans for his second term and how his administration intends to build on its first-term record.

For Adeleke and his supporters, the result represents a renewed mandate from the people of Osun.

For the electorate, however, the second term comes with heightened expectations as the governor prepares to translate his campaign promises into further development across the state.

Final Result: