Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on his All Progressives Congress (APC) challenger, Bola Oyebamiji, to accept the outcome of the 2026 governorship election and congratulate him following his re-election.
Adeleke made the appeal after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of Saturday’s governorship election, handing him another four-year mandate to remain in office.
The Governor, who contested the election under the platform of the Accord Party, also revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had personally called him to congratulate him on his victory.
Adeleke described the development as an important moment for democracy in Osun State, while expressing appreciation to the President for what he regarded as his support for the democratic process.
According to the Governor, Tinubu’s congratulatory call demonstrated respect for the outcome of the election and the wishes of voters across the State.
“I want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President. Mr. President has called me and congratulated me. Thank you, Mr. President, for making sure democracy lives on because you fought for it,” Adeleke said.
The Governor’s re-election marks the continuation of his administration after his initial victory in the 2022 Osun governorship election.
This time, however, Adeleke contested on the platform of Accord after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Party under which he secured his first term.
His victory came after a closely watched contest against Oyebamiji, the APC candidate and former Osun State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning.
According to the results announced by INEC, Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to emerge ahead of Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) finished third with 17,180 votes.
The result gave Adeleke a winning margin of 66,252 votes over his closest challenger, confirming the Governor’s return to the Government House, Osogbo, for another term.
The election had attracted significant political attention, particularly because of the rivalry between the ruling Accord administration and the APC opposition.
Oyebamiji had campaigned heavily on the APC platform, seeking to unseat Adeleke and return the Party to power in Osun State.
But the incumbent Governor succeeded in securing enough support across the State to retain his position.
Speaking after the declaration, Adeleke attributed his victory largely to what he described as the people’s appreciation of his administration’s achievements over the past four years.
He specifically pointed to developments in infrastructure, healthcare and security as areas where he believed his Government had delivered results for residents.
The Governor said the election result should therefore be interpreted not merely as a personal political victory but as an endorsement of the programmes and projects implemented by his administration.
“I thank God Almighty for this victory. It’s a victory for democracy. Victory for Osun election,” Adeleke said.
He added that the people of Osun had used their votes to reward his administration for what he described as its contribution to the development of the State.
“The victory is a way Osun people are repaying me for the infrastructural developments, health, security and other things I have delivered for my people,” he said.
Adeleke had spent much of his re-election campaign highlighting projects and policies implemented since taking office in 2022.
Before the election, he had also promoted an updated development agenda focused on areas including infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, youth and workers’ welfare, as well as creating a more favourable environment for businesses.
The Governor had previously reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s bid for another term in 2027, despite their different political platforms. In June, Adeleke publicly endorsed Tinubu for re-election, describing his support for the President as “unshaken and total.”
That political relationship appeared to provide additional context to Adeleke’s remarks after the Osun election, particularly his acknowledgement of the President’s congratulatory call.
The Governor also sought to strike a conciliatory tone after the election, insisting that the contest should not create permanent divisions among the people of the State.
He described the outcome as a situation in which there should be “no victor, no vanquished,” despite the clear electoral victory recorded by his Party.
Adeleke consequently appealed to Oyebamiji to accept the result and personally reach out to congratulate him.
“It’s no victor, no vanquished. I am expecting the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to call me and congratulate me,” the Governor said.
The appeal comes at a time when post-election conduct is again under focus, with political leaders and stakeholders expected to ensure that the conclusion of the electoral process does not lead to tension or violence.
For Adeleke, the election result provides an opportunity to consolidate his administration’s policies and pursue the programmes he promised during the campaign.
His victory also means that Osun voters have given him a fresh mandate that will extend his tenure beyond his first four years in office.
The Governor first emerged as Osun Governor in 2022 after defeating the incumbent at the time, Gboyega Oyetola, in a closely contested election. His subsequent victory at the polls and the legal battles that followed eventually confirmed his position as Governor.
Ahead of the 2026 election, Adeleke moved to Accord and embarked on a campaign seeking to persuade voters to allow him to continue with his development agenda. He repeatedly argued that his administration had made measurable progress across several sectors and urged residents to support continuity.
The results announced by INEC have now provided the Governor with another mandate.
For Oyebamiji and the APC, the outcome represents a setback in their attempt to reclaim Osun State. The former Commissioner was Adeleke’s strongest challenger but finished 66,252 votes behind the incumbent.
The ADC’s Salaam, meanwhile, remained a distant third with 17,180 votes.
Adeleke’s victory therefore leaves him in a position to begin preparing for another four years of governance, while the opposition faces the task of reviewing its campaign strategy and electoral performance.
For now, the Governor’s immediate message is one of reconciliation.
Having received a congratulatory call from President Tinubu, Adeleke wants his main challenger to similarly acknowledge the result.
The Governor has framed the election as a victory not only for himself or Accord but for democracy and the people of Osun State, while presenting the outcome as a public endorsement of his administration’s record.
The next phase will now be to translate the renewed mandate into the projects and policies promised during the campaign, while maintaining political stability across the State.