The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has said it is carefully reviewing the outcome of the 2026 governorship election before deciding its next course of action, amid the defeat of its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, by the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke.
The opposition Party said its leadership was examining the results recorded across the 332 wards in the State, stressing that the process of reviewing the election would determine whether it would pursue any available legal remedies.
The APC made its position known in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Information in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, following the declaration of Adeleke as winner of the governorship contest.
According to the Party, the conclusion of voting and announcement of results does not necessarily mark the end of an electoral process, particularly where there are constitutionally recognised avenues for challenging an outcome.
The APC argued that parties and candidates have a right to make use of the legal provisions available under the Electoral Act where they believe there are grounds for doing so.
The Party said it was therefore consulting its legal team and would consider the advice of its lawyers before making a final decision on the way forward.
The position comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke the winner of Saturday’s election in the early hours of Sunday.
The Governor, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, secured 511,067 votes to defeat Oyebamiji of the APC, who polled 444,815 votes.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third with 17,180 votes.
The margin between Adeleke and Oyebamiji stood at 66,252 votes, giving the incumbent a clear lead in the final results announced by INEC.
The Returning Officer for the election, Joshua Ogunwole, announced the result in Osogbo after the collation of results from the State’s 30 local government areas.
The election attracted significant attention because it was a major test of the political strength of the incumbent Governor and the APC, which sought to wrest control of the State from the Accord Party.
With the official declaration now made, however, the APC has indicated that it is not immediately conceding the political battle without first examining the results and the available legal options.
In its statement, the Party maintained that its position was consistent with what it described as its commitment to the rule of law, fairness and justice.
The APC also called on its members and supporters across Osun State to remain calm while the Party conducts its review.
It urged supporters not to allow themselves to be drawn into confrontations or actions capable of escalating political tensions following the election.
The Party specifically cautioned its members against responding to what it described as provocative actions or inactions by members and supporters of the ruling Accord Party.
The APC said its supporters should continue with their normal activities and remain steadfast while the Party leadership determines its next step.
It also appealed to the Nigeria Police Force to intervene over what it described as alleged harassment and molestation of some APC members and supporters by opposition elements.
The Party called on the police to protect its members and supporters and ensure that the post-election atmosphere did not degenerate into violence.
The APC’s reaction adds a new dimension to the aftermath of the Osun governorship election, particularly as attention shifts from voting and collation to the possibility of legal challenges.
Under Nigeria’s electoral dispute framework, candidates and political parties can challenge election outcomes through the appropriate legal channels where they believe the process or declared results provide sufficient grounds for a petition.
The APC’s statement, however, stopped short of announcing that it had decided to challenge Adeleke’s victory in court.
Instead, the Party said it was studying the results from the various wards and consulting its lawyers before deciding what action to take.
The distinction is significant because the Party has not formally declared that it will reject the result or immediately approach the election tribunal.
Its current position is that the results must first be subjected to detailed scrutiny before a decision is reached.
The Party also reminded its members that electoral disputes can progress through the established judicial hierarchy, potentially involving the tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, depending on the nature and outcome of any legal challenge.
The APC said the election should therefore be viewed as a process rather than an event that ends with the declaration of a winner.
Meanwhile, the figures released by INEC showed that the election recorded a substantial number of votes across Osun State.
A total of 1,005,800 votes were cast in the 30 local government areas, while 985,079 votes were declared valid.
INEC also reported that 1,010,684 voters were accredited for the election, which featured candidates representing 15 political parties.
Adeleke’s victory has already attracted congratulatory messages from President Bola Tinubu and several state governors.
Tinubu described the outcome as an indication that Nigeria’s democratic process continues to gain strength, while Adeleke has also acknowledged the messages of goodwill following his re-election.
The Governor’s victory gives him another mandate to remain in office, while the APC’s decision on whether to challenge the outcome could determine the next phase of the political contest in Osun State.
For now, the APC has asked its supporters to remain calm as its leadership studies the results and receives legal advice.
The Party’s statement suggests that it wants to keep all available options open rather than immediately announce its acceptance or rejection of the result.
As the post-election process unfolds, political attention in Osun is expected to remain focused on the APC’s review, the possibility of an election petition and the conduct of political actors in the period following the poll.
The immediate priority, however, remains maintaining peace while the parties consider their respective positions and await any formal legal steps that may emerge from the election.
The APC said the present situation should be regarded as a phase in the State’s political history and expressed confidence that it would eventually become part of the past.
For the Party, the next major decision will come after its review of the results and consultations with its lawyers. Until then, the APC has made clear that it is keeping its options open following Adeleke’s re-election as Osun State Governor.