Adeleke Wins Second Term As Osun Governor, Defeats Oyebamiji

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, winner of the 2026 governorship election.

Adeleke of the Accord Party defeated his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to secure a second term in office.

The governor polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji scored 444,815 votes, giving Adeleke a winning margin of 66,215 votes.

The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Folasayo Salaam, came a distant third with 17,180 votes.

Salaam had entered the election as one of the candidates expected to potentially emerge as a third force, particularly following the backing he received from former Osun Governor and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

That expectation, however, did not translate into the numbers needed to seriously challenge the two leading candidates.

Adeleke’s victory means he becomes only the third governor in Osun State’s history to win a second term through an election.

He joins Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Rauf Aregbesola in the state’s political history, although Oyinlola’s tenure was later cut short following a court decision that nullified his election over irregularities.

Aregbesola subsequently succeeded Oyinlola and went on to secure a second term, completing eight years in office.

How Adeleke Held On

Adeleke’s re-election comes against the backdrop of a fiercely contested campaign and divisions within his own political camp.

The governor faced a challenge not only from the opposition but also from a faction of his party that appeared reluctant to back his re-election bid in the run-up to the poll.

Yet, the incumbent managed to retain his electoral base and mobilise significant support across the state.

His campaign also leaned heavily on his record in office and the personal connection he has built with many ordinary residents.

For Adeleke, the election became as much a referendum on his administration as it was a contest between political parties.

His supporters pointed to his visibility across the state, infrastructure projects and direct engagement with residents as factors that helped strengthen his appeal.

The result also demonstrates that the APC’s effort to unseat the incumbent, despite fielding a candidate with considerable political experience, was not enough to overcome Adeleke’s support base.

Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes, however, show that the contest was far from a walkover.

The 66,215-vote margin reflects a competitive election in which the incumbent had to defend his position against a well-organised opposition campaign.

With the declaration now made, attention will shift to whether the political temperature in Osun cools after a closely fought election and whether the opposition accepts the result or challenges it through the courts.

For Adeleke, the immediate task is to turn an electoral mandate into another four years of governance — and to ensure that the personal popularity and political momentum that carried him to victory translate into an even stronger record in office.