Against All Odds, Adeleke Wins to Secure Second Term as Osun Governor
Oru Leonard
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has defied expectations to win the August 15, 2026 governorship election, securing a second term in office after a fiercely contested political battle.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, the winner after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
Adeleke’s victory margin stood at 66,252 votes, while he won 19 of Osun State’s 30 Local Government Areas, with Oyebamiji taking the remaining 11 LGAs.
The result represents a significant political victory for Adeleke, who entered the election facing a highly competitive contest and an opposition determined to wrest power from his administration.
The governor’s re-election also marks a new political chapter, as Adeleke contested the 2026 election under the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His victory gives the Accord Party its first governorship win in Osun State.
The outcome is particularly notable given the political history of the state, where governorship contests have consistently been closely fought. Adeleke himself first emerged as governor in 2022, defeating the then incumbent, Gboyega Oyetola, in another keenly contested election.
With his latest victory, Adeleke now has a fresh four-year mandate to consolidate his administration’s policies and programmes and provide continuity in the governance of the state.
The election was preceded by months of intense campaigns, political realignments and heightened competition among the major parties. Fifteen political parties participated in the contest.
For Adeleke, the result represents more than a personal electoral triumph. It is a strong endorsement from the electorate for another four years and a major boost to his political standing ahead of the wider political realignments expected across Nigeria.
The governor is expected to formally begin preparations for his second term while attention shifts to the challenges of governance, economic development, infrastructure, job creation and maintaining political stability across Osun State.
The final declaration by INEC brings to a close one of the most closely watched governorship elections in the South-West in 2026.
