Adeleke Clinches Second Term in Osun as Accord Party Defeats APC

Governor Ademola Adeleke has secured another four-year term as the governor of Osun State after defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2026 governorship election.

The Returning Officer for the election, Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke the winner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Collation Centre in Osogbo in the early hours of Sunday.

Adeleke, who contested under the platform of the Accord Party, polled 511,067 votes, defeating Oyebamiji, who recorded 444,815 votes.

Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) finished third with 17,180 votes.

Ogunwole said a total of 1,005,800 votes were cast across the state’s 30 local government areas, with 985,079 votes declared valid. He added that 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the election.

Adeleke’s Accord Move Pays Off

The victory marks a major political comeback for Adeleke, who won his first term in 2022 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor defected from the PDP to the Accord Party in December ahead of the governorship election.

Explaining his decision at the time, Adeleke said the Accord Party’s focus on welfare and the well-being of citizens and workers aligned with his administration’s priorities.

His victory under a different political platform now gives him another four years to lead the state.

Tense Campaign Preceded Election

The election came after months of intense political activities, accusations and counter-accusations between the major political parties.

Security was significantly increased across Osun State following concerns over possible violence and disruption of the electoral process.

Authorities deployed about 15,000 police personnel, alongside commissioners of police, a helicopter and a drone unit for surveillance.

President Bola Tinubu also directed security agencies to ensure adequate protection at polling units and called on INEC to guarantee a transparent and credible election.

EFCC Account Freeze Sparks Controversy

The election was also preceded by controversy over the freezing of an account belonging to the Osun State Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The move attracted public attention because of its timing, with President Tinubu subsequently directing the anti-graft agency to unfreeze the account.

Another last-minute development came when a court ordered INEC to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the election.

The ruling forced the electoral commission to make adjustments to its preparations, including the printing and distribution of ballot papers and other sensitive materials.

INEC officials said millions of ballot papers were produced within a short period despite the late court order.

Supporters Take Over Osun Streets

Adeleke’s victory triggered celebrations in several parts of the state, particularly in Osogbo and Ede, his hometown.

Supporters poured into the streets as the results emerged, singing, dancing and chanting in celebration of the governor’s re-election.

The celebrations gathered momentum as Adeleke’s strong performance across several local government areas became clear, marking the end of a closely watched governorship contest.