Celebrations broke out across Osun State on Sunday after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Ademola Adeleke the winner of the August 15 governorship election.
The jubilation was particularly visible in Osogbo, the state capital, and Ede, Adeleke’s hometown, where supporters gathered on the streets singing, dancing and chanting in celebration.
According to Channels Television, supporters also gathered at the INEC collation centre in Osogbo as results from the state’s 30 local government areas were announced. Crowds also assembled around Adeleke’s residence in Ede ahead of his expected return.
INEC’s Returning Officer, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke of the Accord Party the winner early on Sunday.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes, defeating his closest challenger, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.
The governor won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11.
Professor Ogunwole said Adeleke had satisfied the requirements of the law and was therefore declared elected.
The declaration sparked fresh celebrations around the INEC premises in Osogbo, while large crowds gathered in Ede to celebrate the governor’s return for another term.
The celebrations had started in parts of the state as results emerged from polling units and local government areas, with strong support recorded for Adeleke in Ede.
The election featured 15 political parties and followed months of campaigning and heightened security across Osun State.
INEC recorded 1,005,800 votes cast, with 985,079 valid votes, while 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the election.
Adeleke’s victory secures a second term in office. He won the 2022 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before moving to the Accord Party in December 2025.
The scenes in Osogbo and Ede recalled the celebrations that followed Adeleke’s emergence as governor after the 2022 election.
