President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it was studying the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election before deciding whether to challenge the result.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform, winner after he secured 511,067 votes against 445,815 votes polled by the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Adeleke won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.

The result gives Adeleke a second term after his victory over then-incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the APC in the 2022 election.

Reacting to the result, Tinubu said he had personally called Adeleke to congratulate him and urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to unite the people of Osun and pursue development irrespective of political affiliation.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said Adeleke’s victory reflected the confidence of Osun voters in his leadership.

“I called Governor Ademola Adeleke earlier today to congratulate him on his election victory in Osun State. His victory once again confirmed the confidence the people of Osun State have in him,” Tinubu said.

He urged Adeleke to unite the people and mobilise them for “growth, stability, and social and economic progress” regardless of their political choices.

Tinubu also commended the other contestants for their conduct and praised INEC and the security agencies for what he described as a peaceful and transparent election.

“The outcome of the election reflects the will of the people and is a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our land,” he said.

NGF congratulates Adeleke

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) also congratulated Adeleke, describing his victory as a reflection of the confidence placed in him by Osun voters.

In a statement by its Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the forum attributed Adeleke’s victory partly to his achievements and personal qualities.

The NGF commended Osun voters for their participation and said the interest generated by the off-cycle election demonstrated the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy.

It also praised security agencies for creating an environment that allowed the election to take place with minimal incidents.

PDP, opposition groups hail result

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the National Working Committee led by Abdulraham Mohammed, described Adeleke’s victory as well-deserved.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said the result reflected the confidence of Osun residents in Adeleke despite his decision to contest under the Accord Party platform.

A rival PDP faction led by Tanimu Turaki described the result as a possible preview of the 2027 general election.

The faction alleged that the APC used intimidation and pressure in an attempt to take control of the state but was resisted by voters.

It also raised concerns about alleged partiality by security agencies, the freezing of state government accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission during the electoral period and delays in uploading some polling-unit results.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also congratulated Adeleke, describing the result as a victory for democracy and opposition cooperation.

The party, however, demanded an explanation from INEC over what it described as a prolonged halt in the uploading of results to the commission’s result-viewing portal.

APC considers next step

The APC said it was studying the election result and would consult its legal team before deciding its next course of action.

In a statement by the party’s Director of Media and Information in Osun, Kola Olabisi, the APC said INEC’s declaration did not foreclose constitutional avenues available to an aggrieved candidate or political party.

The party said the electoral process extends from voter registration and party primaries to the election itself and, where necessary, the tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

It said it would explore provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended, to challenge any anomalies it believed occurred during the election.

“An election cannot be said to have been concluded without exploring all constitutionally allowed legal opportunities to correct anomalies observed in the process,” the party said.

The APC urged its supporters to remain calm and avoid provocative actions while consultations with its lawyers continue.

Obi urges voters to protect their ballots

Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate Peter Obi described the Osun result as a victory for democracy and urged Nigerians to draw lessons from the election ahead of the 2027 general election.

Obi commended Osun voters for exercising their constitutional right to choose their leaders and praised youths for what he described as their peaceful defence of their votes.

“The electorate has once again demonstrated that political power ultimately belongs to the people and that citizens have the constitutional right to determine who governs them,” he said.

Obi urged Nigerians facing economic hardship, insecurity and deprivation to recognise the power of the ballot in demanding accountable leadership.

He called on citizens to remain informed, participate actively, vote and protect their ballots during the 2027 elections.

Atiku: Osun result signals APC defeat in 2027

Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, described Adeleke’s victory as an indication that the APC could be defeated in the 2027 general election.

Atiku congratulated Adeleke and the people of Osun State, saying the result reflected the wishes of the electorate.

He urged Nigerians to replicate the level of participation witnessed in Osun during the 2027 general election.

“The outcome of last Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State is an expression of the wishes of the people, which has earned Governor Adeleke his re-election,” he said.

Atiku also alleged that the deployment of armed personnel was intended to intimidate voters but said the outcome demonstrated what he described as declining support for the APC.

“Nigerians have roundly rejected the APC. The election in Osun State is just a telling indication that the APC will be defeated in the general election in January 2027,” he said.

Duke, Hashim, Natasha hail Adeleke

Former Cross River State Governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, Donald Duke, described the Osun election as a litmus test for the 2027 general election.

Duke said the result demonstrated that voters could determine their political leadership through the ballot and called on opposition politicians to put aside their differences and work together ahead of 2027.

Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, also congratulated Adeleke, describing his re-election as a victory for democracy and the people of Osun State.

Hashim urged Adeleke to see his second term as a renewed mandate to serve all residents of the state irrespective of political affiliation.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan also congratulated the governor, saying the election demonstrated that political power ultimately belongs to the electorate.

Adeleke extends olive branch

Adeleke, speaking at his country home in Ede, appealed for peace and unity in Osun State following his re-election.

He urged his supporters not to attack opposition members and called on community leaders and traditional institutions to promote peace-building initiatives.

The governor observed a minute’s silence for victims of pre-election violence and dedicated his victory to the people of Osun.

“As you have trusted me with a second term in office, I will reinforce my strong points and correct my errors,” he said.

Adeleke promised to accelerate development under his renewed five-point agenda and assured residents that his administration would work for all, regardless of political affiliation.

“In this race, there is no victor, no vanquished. I extend an olive branch to my co-contestants. I am the governor of all Osun people,” he said.

He also commended Tinubu for what he described as support for a free and fair election and reaffirmed his endorsement of the President for a second term in 2027.

APM, IPAC call for respect for mandate

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) described the Osun result as evidence of growing dissatisfaction with the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The party said the outcome demonstrated that political establishments could be defeated when voters resolved to change their leaders.

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) also urged the APC and other contestants to respect the outcome of the election.

IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, described Adeleke’s victory as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, while commending INEC, security agencies, observers and other stakeholders.

He, however, raised concerns about alleged harassment, intimidation, arrests and violence before the election and urged stakeholders to prevent a recurrence.

TMG cautions against subverting result

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) urged politicians not to use electoral litigation to overturn what it described as the mandate of Osun voters.

In a statement signed by its Chairman and Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the group urged the judiciary to ensure that electoral disputes strengthen rather than weaken the sanctity of the ballot.

TMG called on candidates and political parties with legitimate grievances to pursue them through lawful electoral and judicial channels.

The group also commended INEC for what it described as the relatively seamless conduct of the poll and the use of technology for results transmission.

It, however, said vote-buying, intimidation, thuggery and voter suppression should not be attributed entirely to the electoral commission, arguing that political actors and their supporters also played roles in such practices.