OsunDecides2026: Adeleke Wins Re-Election, Defeats APC’s Oyebamiji

Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has been declared the winner of the 2026 Osun State

Governorship Election, securing another four-year term after defeating the All Progressives

Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. The State Returning Officer, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, announced the result at the

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) State Collation Centre in Osogbo on Sunday morning, after results from all 30 Local Government Areas had been collated.

Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji recorded 444,815 votes. The African

Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes. The final result showed a margin of 66,252 votes between the two leading contenders.

Adeleke secured victory in 19 of the state’s 30 LGAs, while Oyebamiji prevailed in 11. Salaam did not win any local government area.

The incumbent carried Boluwaduro, Ede South, Ife North, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Ife Central,

Orolu, Osogbo, Oriade, Odo-Otin, Ife East, Ifelodun, Iwo, Ede North, Ila, Aiyedire, Egbedore,

Aiyedaade and Ejigbo. Oyebamiji won in Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun, Obokun, Atakunmosa West, Irewole,

Atakunmosa East, Isokan, Ola-Oluwa, Ife South and Olorunda.

Some of Adeleke’s biggest victories came from areas regarded as his political strongholds. In Ede North, he secured 35,427 votes against Oyebamiji’s 10,283, while Ede South delivered 26,188 votes for the Accord candidate compared with 6,219 for the APC.

In the state capital, Osogbo, Adeleke obtained 36,480 votes, defeating Oyebamiji, who received 30,474. He also recorded notable victories in Ife East, with 27,201 votes against 18,600; Iwo, with 27,085 votes against 19,660; Egbedore, with 19,278 votes against 11,194; and Oriade, with 21,343 votes against 14,863.

Oyebamiji, however, delivered strong performances in several areas. His margin came in Irewole, where he polled 29,972 votes against Adeleke’s 10,934.

The contest attracted intense political activity both on the ground and online, particularly during the collation of results.

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and the governor’s nephew, was one of the most visible voices during the process. He raised allegations on social media concerning possible attempts to influence the outcome and urged voters to monitor the counting and collation of results.

He also alleged that APC supporters had attempted to disrupt proceedings in parts of Osogbo.

Those claims emerged alongside concerns over misinformation during the election. The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) identified fabricated and manipulated materials, including AI-generated images presented as genuine scenes from

the exercise. The organization cautioned the public to distinguish between verified developments, unconfirmed allegations and digitally manipulated content as results emerged.

INEC has announced the final results and declared Adeleke the winner of the election. Oyebamiji and the APC can still challenge the result in court, although they have not announced any such move. Adeleke will now serve another four-year term as governor of Osun State.

Adeleke first became governor of Osun State after winning the 2022 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeating the then incumbent, Gboyega Oyetola of the APC. He subsequently moved from the PDP to the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 election, making this year’s contest his first governorship election under the new platform. His latest victory therefore marks the continuation of his administration under a different political banned.