OSUN 2026: ADELEKE, OYEBAMIJI, SALAAM BATTLE FOR VICTORY AS INEC COLLATES RESULTS AMID TENSION

OSUN 2026: ADELEKE, OYEBAMIJI, SALAAM BATTLE FOR VICTORY AS INEC COLLATES RESULTS AMID TENSION

The political future of Osun State remains hanging in the balance as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues the collation of results from Saturday’s governorship election, with the three leading contenders locked in a keen contest.

Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam were among the major contenders in the election, which attracted voters across the state's 30 Local Government Areas.

The election, held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, was largely followed by intense political interest, with the outcome expected to determine who occupies the Bola Ige House for the next four years.

INEC’s electronic Result Viewing (IReV) portal showed rapid uploads of polling-unit results after voting and counting ended. By Saturday night, thousands of the 3,763 expected polling-unit results had been uploaded, with the figure subsequently rising to more than 3,500, representing over 94 per cent of the expected results.

ADELEKE SEEKS SECOND TERM

Governor Ademola Adeleke entered the election seeking a fresh mandate after winning the 2022 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party before subsequently moving to the Accord Party.

Adeleke expressed confidence in victory after casting his vote at his polling unit in Ede North, urging his supporters to remain vigilant and protect their votes.

Early results uploaded to the IReV portal showed the incumbent recording victories at several polling units, including units in Osogbo and Ede, while Accord also secured notable results in areas considered politically significant.

OYEBAMIJI MOUNTS STRONG APC CHALLENGE

For the APC, Bola Oyebamiji represents the party's effort to reclaim Osun after its defeat in the 2022 election.

Oyebamiji, a former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, also expressed confidence in his chances after voting in his hometown of Ikire.

The APC candidate's camp has remained optimistic as results emerged, with the party recording victories in a number of polling units. Notably, APC won at the polling unit of former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Ilesa, while Oyebamiji's hometown also produced closely watched results.

However, Accord also recorded a significant result in Ikire, with 320 votes against APC's 156 at one polling unit associated with Senator Lere Oyewumi, a prominent Adeleke supporter.

SALAAM AND ADC SEEK UPSET

The ADC's Najeem Salaam has also remained a major factor in the contest. The former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly entered the race as one of the strongest challengers outside the two dominant camps.

However, the electoral process was not without incidents. Reports emerged of disruptions at some polling and collation centres, including an incident in Ejigbo where electoral materials were reportedly destroyed following an attack by suspected political thugs.

There were also reports of gunmen invading a collation centre in Osogbo later in the night, firing into the air and temporarily disrupting the collation process.

RESULTS STILL BEING COLLATED

Despite the emergence of several polling-unit winners and competing claims of strength by the major parties, the overall winner of the election cannot yet be determined from individual polling-unit results.

INEC remains the only authority empowered to officially declare the winner after the complete results have been collated and the statutory requirements satisfied.

The electronic transmission of results has nevertheless provided members of the public with access to a substantial portion of the results through the IReV platform.

The 2026 contest has attracted particular attention because of the political significance of Osun, a state that has witnessed closely fought governorship elections in recent years. In 2022, Adeleke defeated then-incumbent APC Governor Gboyega Oyetola, polling 403,371 votes against Oyetola's 375,027.

As collation continues, attention is now firmly fixed on the final figures from the remaining polling units and Local Government Areas.

For Adeleke, the moment could deliver a second term and consolidate his political hold on the state.

For Oyebamiji and the APC, victory would represent a major comeback.

For Salaam and the ADC, a strong showing could significantly reshape Osun's political landscape.

Until INEC completes the collation and makes its official declaration, Osun remains a state waiting for its next political verdict.