Osun: Adeleke Unveils ₦500m Relief Fund, Scholarships For Electoral Violence Victims

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has announced a ₦500 million fund and automatic scholarships for families affected by electoral violence during the build-up to the August 15 governorship election.

Adeleke made the announcement on Wednesday at a celebration rally organised by the Osun labour movement, shortly after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The governor said children and dependants of people who lost their lives during the electoral process would receive automatic scholarships up to university level through the Springtime Development Foundation.

He also announced that the Osun State Government would establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to provide relief and support to verified victims and affected families.

Adeleke said the initiative was necessary because several residents were injured, properties destroyed, livelihoods disrupted and lives lost during the electoral process.

A Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, will oversee the identification and assessment of victims and the distribution of relief.

The governor stressed that the fund would not be politically motivated, saying eligible victims would not be discriminated against based on political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.

“This is not a political fund. It is a humanitarian intervention,” Adeleke said.

The governor also said he had forgiven those who may have offended him during the election and pledged to hold no grudge against his political opponents.

He described his Certificate of Return as a symbol of the confidence placed in him by the people of Osun State, rather than a personal possession.

Adeleke commended INEC for what he described as a professional conduct of the election and also praised security agencies for their role in maintaining peace on election day.

He later visited the Ataoja Palace in Osogbo, where he paid tribute to victims of electoral violence and commiserated with their families.

Among those he remembered were Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass and Kolade Eluyera, alongside other victims whose lives were lost or permanently affected by the violence.

INEC declared Adeleke the winner of the August 15 election with 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. ADC candidate Najeem Salaam received 17,180 votes.

Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won the remaining 11, securing Adeleke a second four-year term.