On the early hours of August 16, 2026, Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party was declared the winner of the Osun State governorship election. The election saw Adeleke secure 511,067 votes, beating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
Edo Governor Caught Slipping Out of Osun at 2AM
Edo State governor Mr Monday Okpebholo was seen leaving Osun State in the dead of the night, ahead of Governor Adeleke's victory. A video clip captured the moment Okpebholo left the state, timestamped 2:06 AM, as residents jeered at him and his entourage.
The jeers were directed at Okpebholo, who had traded words with Governor Adeleke and his musician nephew Davido. Okpebholo had claimed that Governor Adeleke had spent the past four years dancing, but Adeleke fired back, describing Okpebholo as unintelligible. Afrobeats megastar Davido also mocked the Edo State governor by posting his WAEC result, which showed a collection of Es and Ds in several subjects on his Instagram story.
Governor Adeleke Declares Victory
Despite the support of the APC Governors, Ademola Adeleke won the election to secure a fresh four-year mandate. The returning officer, Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, declared Governor Adeleke of the Accord Party the winner of the hotly contested election.
Governor Adeleke called on President Tinubu and security forces to defend democracy, following reports of attempts to hijack or disrupt the electoral process. The election drew interest across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Campaign Rhetoric Heats Up
In the build-up to the elections, Okpebholo, while campaigning for the APC candidate Bola Oyemabiji, charged the Osun people to vote out Adeleke. Adeleke, known as the dancing governor for his famous dance moves, fired back at Okpebholo for being jealous of his moves and described him as unintelligible.
The back and forth between the Edo governor and the Adelekes also explained the boos that accompanied Okpebholo out of the state. It is clear that the Osun people were not impressed with Okpebholo's campaign rhetoric, and they made their feelings known as he left the state.
What Happens Next
The Osun State governorship election has been a closely contested one, and the outcome has sent shockwaves across the country. Governor Adeleke's victory is a significant one, and it remains to be seen how the APC will respond to this defeat.
As the country prepares for the 2027 general elections, the outcome of this election will likely have a significant impact on the political landscape. One thing is certain, however – the people of Osun State have spoken, and their voices have been heard.
Source: Pulse.ng
