Governor Ademola Adeleke has extended an olive branch to his opponents in the Osun governorship election, urging them to join hands with his administration to advance the interests of the people.
Adeleke made the appeal in an address to the people of Osun State on Sunday in Osogbo, hours after he was declared the winner of the August 15 governorship election.
“Osun State is on the march again. We shall expand development and widen the net of good governance. In this race, there is no victor and no vanquished. I extend my olive branch to my co-contestants,” he said.
“I am the governor of all Osun people. My vision is to take Osun from a civil service state to an industrial state and an investment destination. Congratulations to Osun people and to all supporters of good governance.”
Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party, defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to secure a second term as governor of the South-West state.
According to the Returning Officer, Joshua Ogunwole, who announced the final results at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Collation Centre in Osogbo, Adeleke polled 511,067 votes.
Oyebamiji secured 444,815 votes, while Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) finished a distant third with 17,180 votes.
“Having satisfied the requirements of the law, Adeleke Ademola Jackson of the Accord Party is hereby declared the winner and is hereby returned elected,” Ogunwole said while announcing the results.
Reflecting on his victory, Adeleke said the outcome had strengthened his faith in democracy and thanked those who supported his re-election bid.
“To all lovers of democracy, I thank you for supporting our struggle. From home and abroad, the support is overwhelming. My faith in democracy is deepened,” he said.
He also commended the media for its role in promoting democratic values.
“Most importantly, I thank the media for standing by me—by us. The constant coverage in support of democracy emboldened us, and we are grateful,” he added.
Adeleke was first elected governor of Osun State in 2022 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He left the party in December 2025 as he pursued a return ticket to the Bola Ige House in Osogbo.
