Former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his victory in the 2026 Osun governorship election, urging political actors to respect the decision of voters.
Aregbesola, who supported the ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, during the election campaign, acknowledged Adeleke’s re-election in a statement issued on Monday, August 17, two days after the governorship poll.
The former Governor said the outcome of the election should be accepted as an expression of the will of the people, while calling on Adeleke to use his renewed mandate to promote unity, development and inclusive governance across the State.
Adeleke secured victory in the closely contested election, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and Salaam of the ADC, alongside other candidates who participated in the race.
According to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adeleke polled 511,067 votes across the State to emerge ahead of Oyebamiji, who recorded 444,815 votes. Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.
The result followed a highly competitive campaign that had drawn significant attention to the political realignment in Osun, particularly with the emergence of the ADC as a major opposition platform. Aregbesola, a former Governor of the State, played a prominent role in the ADC campaign and openly backed Salaam ahead of the election.
Aregbesola Accepts Adeleke’s Victory
Reacting to the outcome, Aregbesola said elections provide citizens with an opportunity to determine who should lead them, stressing that the decision reached through the ballot must be respected.
He congratulated Adeleke on securing another term and wished him success as he prepares to continue governing the State.
Aregbesola said the responsibility before the Governor was now greater than the political contest that preceded the election.
According to him, Adeleke should interpret his victory as an opportunity to bring the people of Osun together rather than as a reason to deepen political divisions.
The former Governor urged the re-elected Governor to focus on uniting the State, improving development and administering Government fairly to residents regardless of their political affiliations.
The call for reconciliation comes after an election that featured intense competition among the leading political camps in the State.
The 2026 contest also carried particular significance for Aregbesola because he had moved away from the APC political structure and become a leading figure in the ADC. His support for Salaam made the election an important test of the former Governor’s political influence in Osun.
Political developments surrounding Aregbesola have been closely followed since the breakdown of his relationship with the APC structure in the State. His faction’s disagreements with the Party had previously contributed to significant political realignment ahead of the 2022 Osun governorship election.
Former Governor Commends Osun Voters
Aregbesola also commended residents of Osun for participating in the governorship election.
He appealed to political leaders, party supporters and ordinary citizens to put the election behind them and concentrate on moving the State forward.
His message was not limited to Adeleke. Aregbesola also addressed members and supporters of the ADC, praising them for remaining committed to the Party and its candidate throughout the campaign.
He described their participation in the election as a demonstration of political courage, particularly in what he characterised as a highly competitive environment.
The former Governor acknowledged that the election did not produce the result his political camp had hoped for, but maintained that the ADC’s commitment to the future of Osun should not end with the conclusion of the poll.
He said political participation should extend beyond electoral victories and defeats, arguing that those who seek public office must remain committed to contributing to society even after an election has ended.
The ADC’s performance was one of the notable aspects of the 2026 election, as the Party entered the contest as a third force between Adeleke’s Accord Party and the APC. Before the poll, analysts had identified Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam as the leading contenders in what was widely viewed as a competitive three-way race.
Aregbesola Praises Salaam’s Conduct
Aregbesola also commended Salaam for the manner in which he conducted himself during the campaign and after the announcement of the results.
The former Governor said the ADC candidate demonstrated maturity by accepting the outcome of the election and placing the interests of Osun above personal ambition.
He described Salaam’s campaign as reflective of the values the ADC sought to promote, particularly the emphasis on ideas, competence, character and service.
According to Aregbesola, Salaam’s reaction to the election result demonstrated that political competition does not have to permanently divide individuals or communities.
He praised the candidate for accepting the verdict while maintaining his commitment to the broader interests of the State.
Salaam had emerged as an important figure in the 2026 race, with Aregbesola’s political influence providing significant backing to his campaign. Before the election, the ADC was regarded as a potential spoiler in the contest between Adeleke and the APC candidate, particularly because of Aregbesola’s established political network in the State.
Calls For Political Reconciliation
Beyond congratulating Adeleke, Aregbesola urged the Governor to reach out to political opponents and supporters of other parties.
He called on Adeleke to extend what he described as a hand of fellowship to the different political tendencies in Osun.
According to him, the Governor’s second term should be defined by greater inclusion, reconciliation and service to all residents.
The former Governor stressed that governance should not be restricted to those who supported the winning candidate during the election.
His appeal effectively places the responsibility on the re-elected Governor to bridge the political divisions that became more pronounced during the campaign.
Aregbesola also encouraged ADC members to remain active in the development of Osun despite the Party’s defeat.
He argued that democracy becomes stronger when politicians are willing to compete vigorously during elections but also possess the humility to accept the electorate’s decision when the results are announced.
For Aregbesola, the conclusion of the election should therefore mark the beginning of a new phase in Osun politics rather than another period of confrontation.
Adeleke Faces New Mandate
Adeleke’s victory gives him another four years in office and places renewed expectations on his administration.
The Governor’s re-election came after a competitive campaign in which the APC sought to reclaim the State, while the ADC attempted to establish itself as a credible alternative to the two dominant political forces.
The political landscape had already shifted considerably ahead of the poll. Aregbesola, once a major figure within the APC in Osun, campaigned for the ADC, while Adeleke contested under the Accord Party after leaving the PDP amid the Party’s internal crisis.
Earlier analysis of the race had identified the changing alliances, the APC’s attempt to regain influence and the ADC’s emergence as significant factors in the contest.
With the election now concluded, Aregbesola’s message has shifted from campaigning for his preferred candidate to urging acceptance of the result and peaceful political engagement.
His congratulations to Adeleke also marks a notable post-election position from a politician who had backed the Governor in the 2022 election but opposed his bid in the 2026 contest by supporting the ADC candidate.
The former Governor’s latest statement suggests that, despite the political differences exposed during the campaign, he wants the election result to be respected and the State to move forward.
For Adeleke, the challenge will now be to translate the renewed electoral mandate into governance that reaches supporters and opponents alike.
Aregbesola’s central message is that the election is over, the people have made their choice, and the priority should now be the peace, unity and development of Osun State.