PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ademola Adeleke on his re-election as Governor of Osun State, describing the feat as a reflection of the will of the people, while the governor has reaffirmed his support for the President’s re-election campaign in 2027.
News Point Nigeria reports that Tinubu congratulated Adeleke in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the Accord Party candidate winner of Saturday’s August 15, 2026, governorship election.
“I called Governor Ademola Adeleke earlier today to congratulate him on his election victory in Osun State. His victory once again confirmed the confidence the people of Osun State have in him,” Onanuga quoted the President as saying.
“The outcome of the election reflects the will of the people and is a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our land,” Tinubu said.
The President praised the “courage and discipline displayed by other contestants in the election”, saying their “participation deepened and enriched our country’s democratic culture”.
Tinubu wished Adeleke “great success” in his next four years as the leader of Osun State, but urged him to unite the people and rally them for growth, stability, and social and economic progress, regardless of the political choices they made during the election.
Adeleke defeated his closest rival, Bayo Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to win the August 15, 2026, governorship race and secure a second term at the Bola Ige House in Osogbo.
The Osun governor polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji secured 444,815 votes. Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 17,180 votes.
“For that, Adeleke Ademola Jackson of the Accord Party, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is hereby returned elected,” the Returning Officer for the election, Joshua Ogunwole, said while announcing the final results on Sunday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier declared Adeleke winner of the election in the early hours of Sunday.
Ogunwole announced in Osogbo that the incumbent governor scored 511,067 votes, while his closest rival, Oyebamiji of the APC, came second with 444,815 votes, with Salaam of the ADC polling 17,180 votes to finish third.
A total of 1,005,800 votes were cast across the 30 local government areas of Osun State, with 985,079 votes recorded as valid.
INEC also said that 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the poll, while 15 political parties fielded candidates for the governorship election.
Reacting to the outcome, Tinubu, who is also a member of the APC, commended INEC and the security agencies for conducting what he described as a peaceful and transparent election that produced a clear winner.
Meanwhile, Adeleke, at a press conference on Sunday following his emergence as governor-elect, reiterated his support for President Tinubu’s re-election campaign and thanked him for promoting democracy.
“At this point, I must deeply appreciate, Mr. President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election,” the governor said.
“Mr. President is a son of Osun State. And I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.”
While thanking Osun residents for their support, Adeleke said the state would witness further accelerated development and growth under his renewed five-point agenda.
“In the last few months, Osun people have been under very intense pressure. Today, the issues are settled by the grace of God and the people.
“I therefore dedicate this victory to the good people of Osun State. I deeply appreciate your resilience, your strong will and your unwavering commitment to democracy.
“As you have trusted me again for the second term in office, I will not disappoint you. To serve you better, I will reinforce my strong points and correct my errors,” Adeleke stated.