Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has been declared the winner of Saturday’s governorship election after securing victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.

The State Returning Officer, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, announced the result at about 7:24 am on Sunday.

Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord, polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who secured 444,815 votes and won in 11 local government areas.

The governor 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 another local government area.

Oyebamiji recorded victories in Irewole, Isokan, Olorunda, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun and Obokun.

According to the final results announced by the returning officer, 1,010,684 voters were accredited, while 985,079 valid votes were recorded. The total votes cast stood at 1,005,800, with 20,721 votes rejected.

The ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

Declaring the result, Ogunwole said Adeleke had satisfied the requirements of the law and was therefore returned elected.

He said, “That Ademola Nurudeen-Jackson Adeleke, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner of the August 15 governorship election and returned elected.”