Ademola Adeleke has won the 2026 Osun State governorship election, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji to secure another four-year term as governor.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has secured a second term in office after emerging victorious in the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Adeleke, who contested the election under the Accord Party, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the completion of the collation of results from the 30 local government areas of the state.
The governor polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who recorded 444,815 votes.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third with 17,180 votes.
The result gives Adeleke another four-year mandate to govern Osun State, extending his administration beyond the first term he secured after winning the 2022 governorship election.
The declaration followed the collation of results from various local government areas, with election officials, party agents, journalists and observers closely monitoring the process.
The final announcement triggered celebrations among Adeleke’s supporters, with the slogan “Imole De!”, meaning “Light has come,” echoing across parts of the state.
The phrase has become closely associated with Adeleke’s political movement and was prominently used by his supporters during the election campaign and following his victory.
Adeleke’s victory is significant because he contested the 2026 election on a different political platform from the one under which he won his first term.
In the 2022 election, Adeleke contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defeated the then-incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the APC.
For the 2026 contest, however, Adeleke contested under the Accord Party and successfully retained the governorship.
The result therefore represents a significant political achievement for the governor, who was able to secure another mandate despite the change in political platform.
According to the declared figures, Adeleke defeated Oyebamiji by 66,252 votes, giving the incumbent a clear lead over his closest challenger.
Adeleke also won 19 of the 30 local government areas in the state, while Oyebamiji secured victories in the remaining 11 local government areas.
The result demonstrated the competitive nature of the election and the strong political presence of both major contenders across Osun State.
The APC had entered the election hoping to reclaim the governorship after losing the position to Adeleke in 2022.
Oyebamiji campaigned extensively across the state, presenting the APC as an alternative to the incumbent administration.
However, the final statewide figures placed Adeleke ahead and secured his return to the Government House in Osogbo.
The governor’s supporters have described the result as a renewed mandate from the people of Osun State.
Following the declaration, attention is now expected to shift from campaigning to governance as Adeleke prepares for another four years in office.
The second term will give the governor additional time to pursue his administration’s policies, complete ongoing projects and implement new programmes promised during the election campaign.
Residents will also expect the administration to address important issues affecting the state, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment, workers’ welfare and economic development.
The election has once again demonstrated the importance of voter participation in determining political leadership.
Eligible voters across the state’s local government areas had the opportunity to choose between candidates representing different political parties.
Their votes ultimately determined the outcome of the contest.
The election also provided another major test of political strength for the parties involved.
For the Accord Party, Adeleke’s victory represents a major breakthrough and demonstrates that the party was able to mobilise sufficient support to win the governorship.
For the APC, the outcome represents a setback in its attempt to return to power in Osun State.
The ADC’s third-place finish also provides an indication of the level of support it was able to attract during the election.
The political significance of the election is expected to continue beyond the declaration of results, particularly as stakeholders analyse voting patterns across the different local government areas.
Adeleke’s ability to secure 19 local government areas contributed significantly to his overall victory.
The governor will now be expected to focus on governing the entire state, including communities that supported other candidates during the election.
His second term will also provide an opportunity for his administration to strengthen existing policies and introduce additional measures aimed at improving the lives of residents.
The election result has generated celebrations among Adeleke’s supporters, but the responsibility of governance now becomes the central issue for the returning governor.
Political campaigns are built around promises and programmes, while governance requires those promises to be translated into measurable outcomes.
As Adeleke prepares for his second term, residents are expected to monitor the administration’s performance and hold the government accountable for its commitments.
The governor’s victory also places renewed attention on the political future of Osun State.
The state remains one of the politically competitive states in southwestern Nigeria, with the APC, PDP, Accord and other political parties maintaining varying levels of influence.
The outcome of the 2026 election could therefore have implications for future political alignments in the state.
For now, however, the immediate focus remains on the governor’s victory and the celebrations surrounding his return to office.
The “Imole De!” slogan has become a major feature of the celebrations, with supporters using it to express their excitement over Adeleke’s re-election.
The victory gives Adeleke another opportunity to continue his administration’s programmes and pursue his vision for the state.
However, the renewed mandate also comes with greater expectations from residents.
Voters who supported the governor will expect him to fulfil his campaign promises, while those who supported other candidates will also expect the government to provide inclusive governance and address the concerns of communities across the state.
The opposition parties may also review their performance and strategies following the election result.
The APC, in particular, will have to assess the factors responsible for its defeat and determine how to strengthen its political structure ahead of future elections.
The election has also highlighted the role of grassroots mobilisation in determining electoral outcomes.
Political candidates must be able to build support across communities and local government areas in order to compete effectively in statewide elections.
Adeleke’s performance across 19 local government areas ultimately gave him the advantage needed to secure another term.
As the electoral process moves beyond the declaration stage, stakeholders are expected to maintain peace and respect democratic procedures.
Political disagreements are expected in any competitive election, but supporters and opponents are encouraged to resolve disputes through lawful and peaceful channels.
Where candidates or political parties have concerns about the conduct or outcome of the election, the law provides avenues for seeking redress.
The declaration of Adeleke as winner, however, marks the conclusion of the official collation process.
The governor can now begin preparing for the next phase of his administration and the responsibilities that come with the renewed mandate.
For residents of Osun State, the election marks the beginning of another political chapter.
The electorate has made its choice, and the focus will now be on governance, development and accountability.
Adeleke’s second term will be judged not only by the promises made during the campaign but also by the policies implemented and the impact of those policies on the people of Osun State.
The governor’s victory is therefore both a political achievement and a renewed responsibility.
With supporters celebrating under the banner of “Imole De!”, Adeleke now faces the task of turning the electoral victory into meaningful results for the people.
Ademola Adeleke became governor of Osun State after winning the 2022 governorship election. He later contested the 2026 election under the Accord Party and was declared winner by INEC after defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji. His victory gives him another four-year term as governor.
