Politics

BREAKING: INEC Declares Adeleke Winner of Osun Governorship Election

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  Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, was on Sunday declared the winner of the governorship election after securing victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas in Saturday’s poll. The State Returning Officer, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Joshua Ogunwole, declared the result of the poll at about 7:24 am on Sunday. Adeleke polled a total of 511067 votes to emerge victorious in the contest. Ogunwole subsequently returned the governor to office for another term. The incumbent Osun governor, who contested the poll on the platform of the Accord, defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who won in 11 LG areas of the state. While Adeleke won in Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo, Iwo, Egbedore, Ife North, Ife East, Ife Central, Oriade, Ifelodun, Orolu, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Odo Otin, Boluwaduro, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Osogbo and Ayedire local government areas. Oyebamiji, however, won in Irewole, Isokan, Olorunda, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun and Obokun local government areas. Declaring the results, Ogunwole said, “Accredited voters, 1010684, total votes received by political parties, A, 511067, AA, 2308, AAC, 1458, ADC, 17180, ADP, 2946, APC, 444815, APGA, 1475, APM, 234, APP, 114, BP, 111, NNPP, 118, PRP, 83, SDP, 155, YPP, 534, ZLP, 2482, total valid votes, 985079, rejected votes, 207, total vote cast, 1,005,800.” After agents of the political parties have signed the results of the election, the Returning Officer declared Adeleke of the Accord as the winner of the poll. “That Ademola Nurudeen-Jackson Adeleke having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declare the winner of the August 15 Governorship election and returned elected,” Ogunwole said. The candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the poll, Najeem Salaam, came third in the poll.  

#OsunDecides2026: “Shame on APC, We’re Winning Osun, No Be Edo” — Davido

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  Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has claimed that his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, is ahead in Saturday’s governorship election. In a series of posts shared on social media as votes were being counted across the state, Davido also claimed that the All Progressives Congress had lost in the ward of former Osun State Governor, Bisi Akande. “Their group chat don scatter! Baba Akande lost his ward. Gov Adeleke is cruising to victory. Shame APC. Osun no be Edo!” he wrote. The singer, who has openly mobilised support for Adeleke, also urged residents to remain vigilant and resist what he described as alleged plans by former Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola. “I implore Osun people to stay vigilant all night and resist plans of Oyetola. Na we get Osogbo! Imole ti woleeeee,” he added. In another post, Davido expressed confidence that Adeleke would win the election and called for security agencies to remain deployed at electoral locations. “We are winning, guys! Security agencies shouldn’t be withdrawn from electoral units,” he wrote. Meanwhile, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission commenced the sorting and counting of votes at polling units across Osun State following the conclusion of voting. As of 5:51 p.m. on Saturday, a check of the INEC Result Viewing Portal by our correspondent showed that results from 1695 of the 3,763 polling units had been uploaded. PUNCH Online earlier reported that three major candidates in the election had expressed confidence in emerging victorious as the exercise entered the sorting and collation stage. Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, expressed confidence in victory after casting his vote at Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9, in Ede North Local Government Area. Similarly, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who voted at Ward 09, Unit 011, Ikire, in Irewole Local Government Area, also expressed confidence of winning the election. Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, raised concerns over the alleged non-recognition of his party agents in several areas across the state. The Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to officially declare a winner as of the time of filing this report

#OsunDecides2026: Jubilation as Adeleke Secures 421 Votes at His Polling Unit

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  Jubilation broke out on Saturday after the Accord Party governorship candidate and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, secured victory at his polling unit in the ongoing governorship election. Adeleke polled 421 votes at Ward 02, Polling Unit 009, Abogunde Compound, Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State. Supporters of the governor were seen celebrating after the result was announced at the polling unit. Three major candidates in the Osun governorship election had expressed confidence in emerging victorious as the polls entered the sorting and collation stage, with each candidate and their supporters optimistic about securing the mandate of the electorate. Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, on Saturday, expressed confidence in emerging victorious in the ongoing governorship election after casting his vote at Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9, in Ede North Local Government Area. Opposition candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, who also voted at his Ward 09, Unit 011, Ikire, in the Irewole Local Government Area, expressed confidence in victory while speaking with journalists after casting his vote. Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, Najeem Salaam, raised concerns over the alleged non-recognition of his party agents in several areas across the state during Saturday’s election. Meanwhile, as at 5:24PM on Saturday, a check by our correspondent on the IReV portal indicated that 1386 out of 3,763 unit results have been uploaded.  

#OsunDecides2026: Police Explain Tear Gas Incident, Arrest Officer

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  The Osun State Police Command has arrested an officer deployed to the Registration Area Centre in Modakeke Ward 10, Ife East Local Government Area, after an accidental tear gas discharge caused panic during Saturday’s governorship election. The command’s response followed viral video clips on social media depicting a chaotic scene in Modakeke, where onlookers expressed anger in Yoruba at police officers, alleging unprovoked tear gas firing at a polling site. Reacting via an official statement on X on Saturday, the Command debunked claims that police operatives deliberately targeted voters at a polling unit to disrupt the electoral process. The statement clarified that the incident took place at the Registration Area Centre rather than a voting centre, describing it as an act of personal negligence. “The Command wishes to clarify that the incident did not take place at any polling unit. It occurred at the Registration Area Centre (RAC) and was the result of negligence on the part of an officer who was attempting to ease himself,” the statement read. Strongly condemning the breach, the police confirmed that the officer involved was promptly taken into custody, with formal disciplinary proceedings initiated. “This conduct is highly condemnable and falls far below the standard expected of an officer of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement continued. “The officer involved has been immediately apprehended. A thorough investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident and to establish whether there were any other motives behind the action.” Reassuring the public on electoral protocols, the police emphasised that security personnel deployed to polling units are strictly prohibited from bearing arms or tactical gear within a designated radius of voting points. The Command also dismissed social media reports claiming the discharge was aimed at scaring away voters. Apologising to affected residents and election observers, the Command reiterated its pledge to maintain a peaceful environment throughout the voting and collation exercises. “The officer concerned will face appropriate disciplinary action in line with the Force’s regulations. “The Nigeria Police Force Osun State Command remains resolute in its duty to protect the integrity of the electoral process and to guarantee the safety and security of all participants,” the statement concluded.

Adeleke alleges arrest of Osun PDP chairman, demands immediate release

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  Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has condemned the reported arrest of the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sunday Bisi, and demanded his immediate release. Adeleke, in a statement posted on his official X account on Saturday, alleged that Bisi was arrested at his home in Ilesa shortly after voting in the ongoing Osun governorship election. It was signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed. The governor described the arrest as an abuse of law enforcement and an attack on the democratic process. “Information reaching me indicates that Bisi was accosted in his home in Ilesa shortly after he returned after voting, and whisked away to a yet-to-be-known location. “Up till this moment, no one has been availed the reason for his arrest, which indicates that the APC is working in cohort with compromised security agents to keep people away from monitoring results at the various collation centres,” Adeleke said. Adeleke further alleged that the arrest was part of a broader attempt to interfere with the collation of results, although he did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim. “This latest sweep on my supporters, I have authoritatively learnt, is part of a broader plan to give the APC unhindered access to change results at collation centres and upturn our wins at the poll. “This is the biggest assault on democracy, and I urge everyone involved in this desperate attempt to upturn the will of our people through the use of state institutions,” he said. The governor called for Bisi’s immediate release, describing the arrest as political and also demanding the release of what he referred to as other “political prisoners” across the state. “In that regard, I am calling for the immediate release of Hon. Bisi because his arrest is nothing but political and other political prisoners across Osun state,” Adeleke said. He added, “Election should be about the people freely giving their mandates to the person of their choice without threat or force.” At the time of the statement, Adeleke said the whereabouts of the PDP chairman were unknown and that no reason had been given for his arrest. PUNCH Online, however, reports that no security operatives have so far come forward to claim responsibility for the alleged arrest as of press time.  

Osun Gov Poll: Davido Alleges Soldiers are Trying to Block His Entry Into Osun

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  Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has alleged that soldiers were attempting to stop him from gaining entry into Osun State on Saturday, as residents vote in the state’s governorship election. In a post on his verified X account early on Saturday, Davido wrote, “I’ve been reliably informed that soldiers are trying to prevent me from entering Osun tomorrow, this won’t happen, every citizen of Nigeria has the right to movement at any point of time.” The statement comes hours after the Nigeria Police Force announced a restriction of movement across Osun State from 12:00 midnight on Friday, August 14, until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The measure forms part of security arrangements for the poll, which include the deployment of thousands of police personnel and other security agents. Davido, a nephew of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, has been actively involved in his uncle’s re-election campaign under the Accord Party. The governor is seeking a second term against candidates, including Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress and others in the off-cycle election. The singer’s post quickly gained significant traction online, drawing mixed reactions. Some users pointed to the standard election-day movement restrictions as the likely basis for any security checks, while others expressed concern over possible targeted restrictions on the high-profile supporter of the incumbent. Reacting, former presidential media aide, Bashir Ahmad, described Davido’s claim as “dramatic,” noting that security agencies had already announced restrictions on movement across the state as part of measures to ensure a peaceful election. “You are just dramatic, @davido. It has been widely announced by the security operators that movement in and around Osun will be restricted from 12 midnight today until 6 pm today due to the election and this is a standard security measure during elections anywhere not peculiar to Osun. “So the right to freedom of movement does not mean ignoring lawful security measures put in place to ensure a peaceful and credible election,” Ahmad wrote.  

#OsunDecides2026: Ex-minister raises concerns over slow BVAS processing

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  Former Minister of State for Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, on Saturday complained about the slow performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System at his polling unit. Adesiyan, who voted at Unit 8, Ward 6, Lagere Idiose, Ode Omu, expressed concern over how long it would take the large number of voters on the queue to cast their ballots, given the performance of the machine. The former minister said, “The exercise is peaceful here. There have not been any problems, only that the BVAS is very slow. “In this place, we have almost 1,000 people who registered, most of whom are on the queue to vote. Up to now, past 2pm, the number of those who have voted, from the information I gathered, is still under 200. “There are some of our elderly people who are here. The BVAS is not capturing some of them.” Adesiyan said the polling unit deserved another BVAS to quicken the process. He, however, expressed assurance that every registered voter on the queue would be allowed to vote.

Turaki-led PDP Throws Weight Behind Adeleke in Osun Governorship Election

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  The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared its support for the Accord Party candidate and incumbent Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. The faction announced the decision in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong. It follows a Court of Appeal judgment upholding the nomination of Adebayo Adedamola as the PDP governorship candidate for the election. Ememobong said the appellate court, sitting in Abuja, also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to include the PDP logo on the ballot for the August 15, 2026, election.   So This Happened (118) reviews Buhari’s allegations… According to him, the court held that the PDP had conducted its governorship primary, which was monitored by INEC, and forwarded the winner’s name to the commission. He said the court further held that the access code for nomination on INEC’s portal was “a mere administrative formality” that could not override the statutory requirement for forwarding candidates’ names to the commission. However, the faction criticised INEC’s handling of the nomination process, alleging that the commission had refused to recognise its candidate and withheld the codes required for the upload of candidates. It said the court victory came too late for its candidate to campaign for the election. “Though justice has finally been done, in this case the grant of justice is akin to a denial as there is no opportunity for our candidate to undertake campaigns in preparation for the elections,” the statement said. It accused INEC of acting in a partisan manner and reiterated its position that the commission was “not a neutral umpire.” “To this end, faced with the unimaginable difficulty that this situation puts on us, the Interim National Working Committee has chosen not to throw its hands up in defeat, which would only align with APC’s wicked playbook. “As a true opposition party and in defence of multi-party democracy, and after exhaustive consultations with key stakeholders, the Committee has decided to support the candidature of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party for Saturday’s governorship elections,” the statement read. It added, “Governor Adeleke is a former member of our party who left because of the state-engineered and funded leadership conflict in our party. “We therefore ask all our members to vote for Governor Adeleke. We encourage them to go out on Saturday to vote, defend their votes and ensure that their votes count in the election. “Nigerians must resist the shameful do or die disposition of the APC to win elections in places where they are not popular, against the clear wishes of the people. “Elections must be a true reflection of the peoples’ wish, freely expressed through the ballot. Anything short of that is robbery and must not be allowed to stand.”

Osun APC Calls for Arrest Over Killing of DG’s Nephew as Parties Trade Blame

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  The All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council for the Osun governorship election has called for the arrest of the suspected assailants who allegedly killed Oladele Ayegbo, the nephew of the council’s Director-General, Oluwole Oke. Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, the Head of Media and Publicity of the council, Remi Omowaiye, said the party had lost about 40 members to extrajudicial killings in different parts of the state in recent weeks. Omowaiye, who chronicled a series of killings involving APC members that occurred recently, said some suspected hoodlums working for the Accord Party also attacked members of the party in Alarere village in the early hours of Thursday. “Yesterday, (Wednesday) the nephew of the Director-General of our campaign council, Honourable Oluwole Oke, Ayegbo Oladale and Taiwo Oluwadele were shot around Honourable Oluwole Oke’s family compound in Esa-Oke. So This Happened (EP 258) Reviews NNPC’s… “Unfortunately, we lost Ayegbo Oluwadele while Taiwo is still in a very critical condition. Just this morning again, an associate of Honourable Sanya Omirin and three others were attacked. They were shot. “Those shots were Adebayo Dada’s own was severe. All members of the APC at Atakumasa East were shot at. Others were Idowu Laide, Ebuka Emmanuel, Adebiyi Ebenezer. They were APC members. They were shot at Alarere,” Omowaiye said. He accused the governor, Ademola Adeleke, of playing the victim’s card, adding, “As I speak, we have lost about 40 of our members, and nothing has been done to stop this.” He continued, “A few days ago in Ilesha, it was alleged that one of the prisoners released by the government was responsible for the killing in Ilesha. “We were preparing for a rally. There was supposed to be a final rally in Ijesa South, and five people were shot. Four of them died, while one is in critical condition at the Teaching Hospital. One of them is still in the ICU. “And what was their offence? They were putting on APC caps. Well, one thing we want him to know is that he cannot escape the law, and the wrath of God will come upon Governor Adeleke for killing our people.” Reacting to the allegations in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday, Osun Accord Party spokesperson, Oladele Bamiji, dismissed the APC’s allegations and told the party to look for the perpetrators of the crime within its fold. Bamiji said, “Our party is peaceful. We have been conducting our campaigns peacefully. There is nothing to warrant all these killings. “This happened not long after a chieftain of the APC in the state declared war on Accord Party members. We urge the police to do their job and fish out the perpetrators.” Also, the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, in a statement obtained in Osogbo, condemned the killing in Esa-Oke and the subsequent destruction of properties. He condoled with the families of the victims and other victims of recent political violence across the state, saying he had directed security agencies to intensify surveillance and security operations in Esa-Oke and its environs, while ordering the police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the perpetrators were apprehended and brought to justice. Adeleke described the incident as an unfortunate consequence of reckless political incitement, urging political leaders and their supporters across Ijeshaland and Osun State to refrain from actions and utterances capable of triggering violence. “We all have families and friends. We should not preach violence. Senator Fadahunsi issued killing directive; the next day, somebody was killed at Esa-Oke, his own zone,” the governor said. He also commiserated with the families of the more than 15 Accord members reportedly killed so far, as well as those whose homes were raided, vandalised or whose members were allegedly illegally arrested in Ikire. “Aside Esa-Oke, over 20 homes of Accord members were raided last night at Ikire. Some were illegally arrested while houses of others were vandalised. This is not politics again. “I challenge our opponents to let us fight through the ballot. Since we are practising democracy, we must allow our people to vote. My strength and that of my party is God and the people. We are winning on Saturday,” the governor said. He urged the people of Esa-Oke, Ijeshaland and Osun State to resist the temptation of attacks and counter-attacks, stressing that the forthcoming election must be conducted peacefully and that every voter must be allowed to freely cast their ballot.  

ADC Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plan to Arrest Aregbesola

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  The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed concern over an alleged plot to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State. The party said it had received what it described as “credible reports” of plans to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days leading to the poll. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on X on Wednesday, the ADC said it was concerned that the alleged arrest could be aimed at disrupting the party’s election activities. “Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of this government towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,” Abdullahi said. Aregbesola, who served as governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 and later as Minister of the Interior, is currently the National Secretary of the ADC. The party said there were established procedures that should be followed if any security agency had lawful reasons to question its national secretary. “Ogbeni Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State, a former Minister of the Federal Republic and the National Secretary of the opposition political party. If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” it said. The ADC argued that arresting Aregbesola on the eve of an election in which the party is participating would raise questions about the motive behind such an action. “An arrest on the eve of an election in which his party is participating would invite only one reasonable conclusion: that the purpose is to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities,” the statement said. The party consequently put the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, urging them to avoid actions that could undermine the credibility of the election. “The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said. “Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now.” The ADC also warned the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government against taking any action that could trigger political tension in the state. “The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” the party said. The party further called on the government to respect democratic principles and ensure that political parties are allowed to participate freely in the election. “Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” Abdullahi said

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