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President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, describing Saturday’s governorship election outcome as evidence that democracy can continue to thrive in Nigeria.
Tinubu said he called Adeleke on Sunday to congratulate him on his victory after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the incumbent the winner.
“I called Governor Ademola Adeleke earlier today to congratulate him on his election victory in Osun State,” Tinubu said in a statement posted on X.
“His victory once again confirmed the confidence the people of Osun State have in him.”
Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform, secured 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 444,815 votes.
The result gave Adeleke a second term in office, with a margin of 66,252 votes. He won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11.
Reacting to the outcome, Tinubu urged Adeleke to use his second term to unite the state and work with residents regardless of their political affiliations.
“Now that he has won, Governor Adeleke must unite the people of Osun State and rally them for growth, stability, and social and economic progress, regardless of the political choices they made at the election,” the president said.
Tinubu also commended the other candidates who participated in the poll, saying their participation contributed to Nigeria’s democratic development.
“I salute the courage and discipline displayed by other contestants in the election,” he said.
“Their participation deepened and enriched our country’s democratic culture.”
He added that the result represented the choice of Osun voters.
The president also praised the electoral commission and security agencies for their roles in the election.
“I must also commend the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies for conducting a peaceful and transparent election that produced a clear winner,” he said.
The election was held on August 15 across Osun’s 30 local government areas after a closely contested campaign between Adeleke and Oyebamiji, with the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, also seeking to emerge as governor.
Adeleke’s victory marks his second consecutive governorship win in the state. He first became governor in 2022 after defeating the then-incumbent APC candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Unlike in 2022, when Adeleke contested under the Peoples Democratic Party, he ran for re-election in 2026 under Accord.
The APC, which controls the national government, fielded Oyebamiji against him.
Tinubu concluded his message by wishing Adeleke success in his second term.
“May our democracy continue to thrive and be strengthened,” he said.
The re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the just-concluded Osun election is a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our country under the All Progressives Congress administration.
I called Governor Ademola Adeleke @AAdeleke_01 earlier today to…
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) August 16, 2026
