Osun Decides: Accord heads for victory as Adeleke leads Oyebamiji by over 66,000 votes

The Accord Party is on track to secure victory in the 2026 Osun State gubernatorial election, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke leading his All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart Bola Oyebamiji by over 66,000 votes. According to collated results from DAILY POST, the Accord Party garnered 491,975 votes, representing 51.9 percent of the total, compared to the APC's 425,731 votes, or 44.9 percent.

This puts Adeleke ahead by 66,244 votes, with results from 3,633 of the state's 3,763 polling units across the 30 local government areas. The African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate Najeem Salaam trails far behind with 16,513 votes, or 1.7 percent. Other parties combined for about 14,500 votes. Adeleke's lead solidified as the count progressed, holding a seven-percentage-point advantage from initial results through to the final tally.

Even with outstanding polling units totaling about 130, including some where voting was cancelled, Oyebamiji's chances of reversing the deficit appear slim. Adeleke, a former candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seeking a second term, would be the first governor elected by the Accord Party in Osun State. Fifteen political parties contested the election, though two, APGA candidate Adesina Adeyemi-Doro and APM candidate Simon Adewale, withdrew prior to the vote.

The State Collation and Returning Officer of INEC has not yet officially declared a winner, as a candidate must receive the most votes cast and meet the geographical spread requirement to be sworn in.