CONGRATULATIONS, GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE: A VICTORY AND A CALL TO GREATER INCLUSION*

Although I campaigned, in my little scope, against his re-election, I hereby congratulate our Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, on his successful re-election as Governor of Osun State for another four-year term.

Just as the Leader of the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly congratulated the successful candidate of the Accord Party at the elections, the rest of us must borrow a leaf from this display of good sportsmanship and extend the same.

The governorship election that held yesterday, Saturday, 15 August 2026, was highly competitive and came amid considerable political uncertainty.

According to the final results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, today – Sunday, 16 August 2026, Governor Adeleke of the Accord Party secured 511,067 votes, with his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, receiving 444,815 votes.
Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress came third with 17,180 votes, whilst twelve other candidates altogether had 12,000 odd votes spread amongst them albeit unevenly.

Governor Adeleke and his Accord Party won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while the APC won 11. His margin of victory was 66,252 votes.

This is a legitimate democratic victory, and the choice of the majority must be respected.

However, the figures also communicate important messages that should not be ignored by a smart winning Governor:
– Out of the 985,079 valid votes cast, Governor Adeleke received approximately 51.88 per cent, while 48.12, per cent being 474,012 voters, supported other candidates.

Using the 2,339,233 registered voters in Osun State and the final 2026 governorship results, the picture is:

Ademola Adeleke (Accord)’s
511,067 votes are
21.85% of total Osun registered voters, whilst
Bola Oyebamiji (APC/AMBO)’s
444,815 would be
19.02% of registered Osun votes.

INEC’s final figures put total votes cast at 1,005,800, meaning Adeleke received 50.81% of votes cast, while Oyebamiji received 44.22%.

What this means is that out of every 100 registered voters in Osun:
About 22 voted for Adeleke
About 19 voted for AMBO
About 4 voted for other candidates
About 57 registered voters did not have a vote counted for any candidate.

So although Adeleke won 50.8% of the votes cast, his 511,067 votes represented only 21.85% of the entire registered electorate.
Likewise, AMBO’s 444,815 votes represented 19.02% of all registered voters.

The particularly interesting figure is the 2.83-percentage-point margin over the entire electorate: Adeleke’s lead of 66,252 votes was relatively modest when measured against all 2.34 million registered voters.

For this year 2026, the best current estimate for Osun State’s population is perhaps about 6.1–6.2 million people.
The most useful official projection is from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS): its population projections put Osun at 4,705,589 in 2022.

Osun State’s own planning document, using its state population projections as declared on Osun State Government website, gives for –
Year 2022: 5,638,559
Year 2032: 7,711,225

Interpolating between those figures gives roughly 6.1 million in 2026.

So, for the election comparison
I would use approximately 6.1 million residents as a reasonable 2026 estimate, rather than the 2.34 million registered voters.

That means:
– Registered voters being 2.34m would be roughly 38% of estimated population
– *Adeleke’s votes being 511,067 would be roughly 8.4% of estimated population*
– AMBO’s votes being 444,815 would be roughly 7.3% of estimated population

It’s important to note that population is not always directly comparable with voters because the population includes children and people who are otherwise ineligible/unregistered to vote.
Nevertheless, the activity or inactivity of the Governor would affect all dwellers of the State!

Therefore, this victory should be received not only with celebration but also with deep reflection.

*An election confers authority, but listening to those who voted differently or didn’t bother to vote at all, builds enduring legitimacy and greater acceptance.*

Yes, nearly one out of every two valid voters chose another candidate. Yet this does not diminish the Governor’s victory, but it demonstrates that a substantial number of Osun citizens are dissatisfied with certain aspects of the administration and continue to yearn for more inclusive, responsive and people-centred governance.

The message from the electorate is clear: this renewed mandate is not a blank cheque. It is both an endorsement and a charge.

As Governor Adeleke prepares for his second term, I hereby urge him to listen more closely to the concerns of citizens, beyond his Accord Party and Ede community.
He should listen also to those who have expressed perceptions of nepotism, the concentration of appointments and opportunities within narrow circles, uneven development and insufficient attention to some communities and sectors.

Whether the administration agrees with these perceptions or not, responsible democratic leadership demands that they be examined honestly and addressed transparently.

Democracy is fundamentally a game of choice. *Citizens who voted differently are not enemies of the government; they are equal stakeholders in the Osun project.*
Their votes represent real experiences, disappointments and expectations. They must not be ignored, excluded or treated as politically irrelevant!

The next four years should therefore become a period of reconciliation, wider consultation and inclusive governance.

Appointments should reflect competence, merit, fairness and the diversity of our state, including partisan diversity!
Our collective (public) resources must be managed transparently, while development projects and economic opportunities should reach every local government, community and demographic group without political discrimination.

Our people desire an Osun State with a stronger economy, sustainable employment, productive agriculture, thriving industries, quality education, accessible healthcare, dependable infrastructure and greater opportunities for young people, women, professionals, artisans and entrepreneurs.

*Yes, the closeness of the contest does not make the victory smaller; yet it makes the responsibility to be fair and carry all Osun stakeholders along greater!*

Once again, I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election.
I wish him Divine wisdom, courage and success as he prepares to lead Osun State for another four years.

May this renewed mandate inspire an improved administration that listens to every voice, governs for every citizen and advances Osun State in every area of its social and economic life.

Congratulations dear Governor Adeleke!
May your administration in the four years ahead bring greater peace, more inclusion unity, even development prosperity and progress to our beloved Osun State – Amen!

*Arc. Goke Omigbodun*
SDP Senatorial Candidate,
Osun Central Senatorial District