Adeleke Wins Osun Governorship Poll Amid Violence, Vote-Rigging Claims

Adeleke Wins Osun Governorship Poll Amid Violence, Vote-Rigging Claims

Governor Ademola Adeleke has secured a second term as Osun State governor, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji by 66,252 votes in a closely fought Adeleke Wins Osun Again as Poll Ends in Gunshots, Rigging Claims

Governor Ademola Adeleke has won a second term in Osun State, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji by 66,252 votes in a tightly contested election marred by reports of gunshots, ballot-box snatching and allegations of result manipulation.

Adeleke polled 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, while ADC candidate Najeem Salaam scored 17,180 votes.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke winner early Sunday after results from all 30 local government areas were collated. Adeleke won 19 LGAs, while Oyebamiji secured 11.

The governor’s strongest performances came in Ede North and Ede South, while Oyebamiji recorded a major victory in Irewole.

The election was, however, far from uneventful. Gunshots were reported at a polling unit in Osogbo, where witnesses alleged ballot boxes were snatched and a man was shot in the leg. Voting was also disrupted in parts of Ejigbo.

Adeleke had accused the APC of plotting to substitute genuine results with fabricated figures, an allegation the party had not publicly responded to.

Police separately announced the arrest of 179 suspected electoral mercenaries, including a serving state lawmaker, in two operations. More than 200 PVCs were reportedly recovered in one of the operations.

Despite the disruptions, voters turned out in large numbers across the state.

With INEC’s declaration, Adeleke begins the next phase of his administration, while dissatisfied candidates retain the right to challenge the result before the election tribunal. overshadowed by reports of gunshots, ballot-box snatching and alleged attempts to manipulate results.

Adeleke, candidate of Accord, polled 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, while ADC candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke winner early on Sunday after results from all 30 local government areas were collated.

Adeleke won 19 LGAs, while Oyebamiji carried 11.

The governor recorded his biggest victories in Ede North and Ede South, where he secured 35,427 and 26,188 votes respectively. He also won Osogbo, the state capital, with 36,480 votes against Oyebamiji’s 30,474.

But the victory came after a tense election day.

Sporadic gunshots were reported at Ogo/Oluwa Kitan polling unit in Osogbo, with witnesses alleging that ballot boxes were snatched and that a man was shot in the leg. Voting was also reportedly disrupted in parts of Ejigbo.

Adeleke had earlier alleged that the APC was planning to replace genuine polling-unit results with fabricated figures and called for local government results to be collated at designated centres rather than moved to Osogbo.

The APC had not publicly responded to the allegation at the time of filing.

Security agencies also reported arrests linked to alleged electoral offences. Police said a serving Osun lawmaker, Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, was arrested in Ikire alongside 146 suspected electoral mercenaries, with more than 200 PVCs reportedly recovered.

Another 33 suspected electoral mercenaries were arrested at a hotel in Ede, bringing the reported total to 179.

Despite the incidents, voters turned out in large numbers across the state, with long queues recorded at several polling units.

Oyebamiji, however, secured important victories, including Irewole, where he defeated Adeleke by 19,038 votes, as well as Boripe, Obokun and Ilesa East.

The result leaves Adeleke with a clear statewide lead, although parties dissatisfied with the outcome can challenge it before the election tribunal in line with the law.