By NEWSCOUNT Desk
Governor Ademola Adeleke has been declared winner of the Osun State governorship election after defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, by 66,252 votes.
Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji secured 444,815 votes.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke the winner after the collation of results from the 30 local government areas of the state.
Adeleke won 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
The governor recorded strong margins in several areas, particularly in Ede North and Ede South. In Ede North, Adeleke polled 35,427 votes against Oyebamiji’s 10,283, while in Ede South he scored 26,188 votes against 6,219.
He also won Iwo with 27,085 votes to Oyebamiji’s 19,660, Ife East with 27,201 against 18,600, Egbedore with 19,278 against 11,194 and Osogbo with 36,480 against 30,474.
Oyebamiji won several local government areas, including Irewole, where he polled 29,972 votes against Adeleke’s 10,934.
The APC candidate also won Boripe with 19,963 votes against Adeleke’s 12,448; Obokun with 16,120 against 12,023; and Ilesa East with 16,208 against 12,280.
Other local government areas won by Oyebamiji included Olorunda, Ife South, Olaoluwa, Isokan and Atakumosa East.
The election was conducted under tight security following the intense contest between the two leading parties. Reports from some parts of the state indicated incidents of gunshots and disruptions at polling units.
The police also announced arrests over alleged electoral offences. Among those arrested was a serving member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji. Police authorities also reported the arrest of suspected electoral mercenaries in Ikire and Ede.
Adeleke had earlier raised concerns over the handling of some results, alleging attempts to substitute authentic polling unit results with other figures. He called for results to be collated at the designated local government centres.
INEC proceeded with the collation after receiving results from the 30 local government areas and later announced Adeleke as the winner.
The victory gives Adeleke another four-year term as governor. He first won the Osun governorship election in 2022, when he defeated the then incumbent, Gboyega Oyetola.
Adeleke won that election by 28,344 votes. His latest victory over Oyebamiji has increased his winning margin to 66,252 votes.
Any candidate or political party dissatisfied with the election result may challenge it before the appropriate electoral tribunal in accordance with the law.
