Osun Election Victory: Adeleke Receives Certificate of Return
By Peace Erewunmi
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his victory in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Adeleke received the certificate on Wednesday at the INEC office in Osogbo, four days after he was declared winner of the election.
The governor, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, secured 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam came third with 17,180 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in the remaining 11.
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Adeleke dedicated the document to the people of Osun State, describing the occasion as a moment of gratitude and appreciation for voters who supported his re-election.
The governor also called on his fellow contestants to join hands with him to move the state forward, stressing that Osun State was bigger than individual political ambitions.
Adeleke said he had forgiven those who might have offended him during the election period and declared that he held no grudges against his political opponents.
He also announced measures to support victims of electoral violence in the state. The governor said his family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide scholarships up to university level for children and dependants of those who lost their lives during the violence.
In addition, the Osun State Government will establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to provide relief to verified victims and affected families.
The governor commended INEC and security agencies for their roles in the election, while acknowledging that lives were lost during the broader electoral process.
The presentation of the Certificate of Return formally confirms Adeleke’s re-election for another four-year term as governor of Osun State.
