OSOGBO, Nigeria — Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso have congratulated Ademola Adeleke on his re-election as Governor of Osun State.
Adeleke was declared winner of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) early Sunday after securing 511,067 votes.
The Accord Party candidate defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 444,815 votes. Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third with 17,180 votes.
Obi: Osun Voters Have Spoken
Obi, who is a prominent opposition figure ahead of the 2027 general election, said Adeleke’s victory demonstrated the power of citizens to determine their leaders through the ballot.
In a statement posted on his X account on Sunday, Obi congratulated Adeleke and the people of Osun State, describing the election as an important democratic milestone.
He said the people of Osun had “spoken with courage and clarity,” reaffirming their right to choose their leaders.
Obi also commended young voters in the state for what he described as their peaceful defense of their democratic mandate.
According to him, the Osun election provides important lessons for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly on voter participation and the protection of electoral mandates.
“The lesson from Osun is clear: democracy is strongest when citizens are alert, conscious of their civic responsibility, and determined to ensure that their votes count,” he said.
Obi urged Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 elections and called on political parties and candidates to respect the rule of law.
“Elections should never be battles of violence, but contests of ideas, competence, character, and service,” he said.
Saraki Calls Victory Vote of Confidence
Saraki described Adeleke’s re-election as a vote of confidence in his administration, arguing that Osun voters had evaluated his first term before deciding to retain him.
“I congratulate my dear brother and friend, Governor Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election as Governor of Osun State,” Saraki said in a statement posted on X.
He said the electorate had spent four years assessing Adeleke’s performance and had now chosen to give him another mandate.
“The people of Osun have spoken, and they have spoken clearly,” Saraki said.
The former Senate President also commended voters for participating in the election and remaining vigilant in protecting their ballots.
He said elections in which voters’ choices are freely expressed, accurately counted and respected are important to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Saraki urged Adeleke to use his second term to consolidate his administration’s programmes and deliver stronger economic and social outcomes for Osun State.
“I trust that he will use the next four years to deepen the work already begun, justify the confidence of the people of Osun, and leave behind a stronger and more prosperous state,” he said.
Kwankwaso Congratulates Adeleke
Kwankwaso also congratulated Adeleke, describing him as a friend and commending Osun voters for exercising their democratic rights.
In a statement on his verified X account, the former Kano governor said the election reaffirmed the importance of the people’s mandate.
“As a leader of the opposition and a committed democrat, I commend the people of Osun State for exercising their democratic rights and reaffirming the power of the people’s mandate,” Kwankwaso said.
He said Adeleke’s victory demonstrated that active citizen participation remained essential to democratic governance.
“This victory is a reminder that when citizens remain committed to their civic responsibilities and make their voices heard, the people’s will must prevail,” he added.
Kwankwaso also commended INEC for conducting the election and urged electoral authorities and other stakeholders to continue working towards credible, peaceful and transparent elections.
Adeleke’s Victory Marks Political Shift
Adeleke’s re-election is politically significant because he contested the 2026 election on the Accord Party platform, after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which he won the governorship election in 2022.
His departure from the PDP followed a prolonged internal crisis within the party, including a dispute over its governorship primary process in Osun.
Adeleke subsequently secured the Accord Party ticket and successfully defended his governorship outside the party that originally brought him to power.
His victory also gives the Accord Party control of the Osun governorship and positions Adeleke as an important political figure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Electoral Concerns Surface Despite Peaceful Poll
The congratulatory messages came amid concerns raised by civil society groups over alleged electoral offences during the poll.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) petitioned INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), calling for investigations into allegations of vote-buying, financial inducement, illegal campaign financing, voter intimidation and violence.
Despite the allegations, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) described the election as largely peaceful.
The final result, meanwhile, gave Adeleke a 66,252-vote margin over Oyebamiji, confirming his return for a second term as Osun State governor.
The outcome is expected to attract wider political attention as Nigeria’s major parties and opposition groups position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election
