How Osun election was won, lost

The Accord Party's candidate, Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, emerged victorious in Osun's governorship election, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Folasayo Salaam, secured fewer votes. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Adeleke as the winner on Saturday, following a contest that saw 15 political parties participate.

Adeleke's victory in the election was marked by a significant margin of 66,252 votes compared to Oyebamiji's 444,815 votes and Salaam's 17,180 votes.

Adeleke expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support in ensuring a free and fair election, reaffirming his endorsement of Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election. The re-election struggle for Adeleke was fraught with challenges, including internal party crises and pre-election violence that claimed many lives and left several others injured. Despite these hurdles, Adeleke managed to meet INEC's requirements and successfully secure his place on the ballot.

During the election, security personnel were deployed in large numbers to ensure the safety of the electorate, INEC officials, and election observers. Despite some delays caused by issues with the BVAS machines, voters came out in large numbers to cast their ballots, leading to a high turnout across the state. Adeleke's victory saw him win in 19 out of the 30 local government areas in the state, an improvement from his performance in the 2022 election where he won 17 out of the 30 LGAs.

His victory can be attributed to factors such as improved workers' welfare, infrastructural development, and the divisions within the APC due to the way the party imposed its candidate. Many of the aspirants, including former Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore, who were aggrieved by the party's decisions, supported Adeleke, contributing to his success in the election.