Osun election: Adeleke widens lead as Oyinlola, Omisore lose polling units

Osun election: Adeleke widens lead as Oyinlola, Omisore lose polling units

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has taken an early lead in the Osun governorship election, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues the collation of results from Saturday’s poll across the state.

Results uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed Adeleke ahead of his major challenger, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, remained a distant third in the provisional figures.

The Osun 2026 election was held across the state’s 30 local government areas, with 15 candidates participating in the governorship race. INEC began uploading polling-unit results to IReV after voting ended on Saturday, while the official collation process continued.

As of Sunday morning, results from 331 of the 332 wards had reportedly been uploaded or reported, with about 93.47 per cent of polling-unit results captured on IReV, according to a report tracking the portal.

The figures showed Adeleke maintaining a substantial advantage over Oyebamiji as the collation progressed. Another report based on about 95 per cent of uploaded results put Adeleke more than 80,000 votes ahead of the APC candidate at that stage.

Adeleke recorded strong performances in several local government areas, including Osogbo, Oriade, Iwo, Ede South, Ife North and Ife East.

In Osogbo Local Government Area, Adeleke polled 36,480 votes against Oyebamiji’s 30,474, while he won Iwo LGA with 27,085 votes compared with the APC candidate’s 19,660 votes.

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The governor also recorded a significant margin in Ede South, where he secured 26,188 votes against Oyebamiji’s 6,219 votes.

In Oriade LGA, Adeleke polled 21,343 votes, while Oyebamiji recorded 14,863 votes. In Ife East, results collated from several wards also placed the governor ahead with 8,076 votes against 5,201 for the APC.

However, Oyebamiji maintained pockets of strength in some areas, including parts of Ilesa East, Boripe and Obokun, making the contest competitive in several APC strongholds.

The early results have also produced notable outcomes at the polling units of some of the state’s prominent political figures.

Former Osun governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who supported Oyebamiji, lost his polling unit at Okuku in Odo-Otin Local Government Area to Adeleke. The Accord candidate secured 125 votes against Oyebamiji’s 85.

Former APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore also lost his polling unit in Ife East to Adeleke. The governor polled 131 votes against Oyebamiji’s 85 votes.

Former Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola, however, suffered a different outcome. The APC won his polling unit in Ilesa East, with Oyebamiji securing 256 votes against Adeleke’s 43 and Salaam’s 13 votes.

Former Osun governor Bisi Akande also witnessed an APC victory at his polling unit in Ila-Orangun, where Oyebamiji defeated Adeleke by 181 votes to 121.

The election was, however, marred by reports of vote-buying, BVAS malfunction, delays, intimidation and isolated violence in parts of the state.

Observers reported alleged cash inducements at several polling units, with some voters reportedly receiving between N20,000 and N30,000. The reports also included allegations of party agents monitoring voters after they cast their ballots.

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and other election-monitoring organisations also documented suspected cases of vote trading and alleged interference by party agents and security personnel.

The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) reported delays in the arrival of INEC officials at 43 per cent of the polling units monitored by its observers. It also documented suspected cases of vote trading, interference by party agents and incidents involving security personnel.

Technical difficulties involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) were another major concern during the election.

Among those affected was the polling unit of Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi in Ile-Ife. Adewusi said BVAS malfunctioned and slowed down accreditation, leaving some voters unable to cast their ballots within the expected period.

Similar complaints were reported in parts of Egbedore, Ife Central, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Ifelodun, Oriade and Ilesa East.

There were also isolated incidents of violence. At the polling unit of ADC candidate Najeem Salaam in Ejigbo, suspected thugs reportedly disrupted voting shortly after he cast his ballot, forcing voters and officials to flee the area.

In Osogbo, violence was also reported around a collation centre, where gunshots were allegedly fired as INEC personnel arrived with election materials.

Despite the incidents, election observers described voting in many parts of the state as largely peaceful, while INEC proceeded with the collation of results.

With the Osun election results still being formally collated, Adeleke’s lead remains provisional until INEC completes the process and announces the final result.

The emerging figures nevertheless place the incumbent in a strong position as the commission moves towards the final declaration.

Osun election: Adeleke widens lead as Oyinlola, Omisore lose polling units