The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday presented the Certificate of Return to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, formally confirming his re-election for a second four-year term.
INEC National Commissioner supervising Osun State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, presented the certificate to Adeleke and his deputy, Kola Adewusi, at the commission’s office in Osogbo.
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Adeleke commended INEC and security agencies for what he described as the successful conduct of Saturday’s governorship election.
The governor also thanked President Bola Tinubu for allowing democracy to thrive and wished him success in the 2027 general elections.
Adeleke urged his opponents in the election to work with him to move Osun State forward, stressing that “Osun is bigger than anyone.”
He also expressed sympathy with families of those who lost their lives during the election, promising to provide scholarships for their children.
The governor said he had forgiven those who wronged him during the electioneering period and appealed to his supporters to let go of past grievances.
Party members and supporters witnessed the certificate presentation.
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INEC had declared Adeleke the winner in the early hours of Sunday after he secured 511,067 votes, defeating his closest rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 444,815 votes.
The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, who announced the results at the INEC collation centre, said 985,079 valid votes were recorded, while 20,721 votes were rejected, bringing the total votes cast to 1,005,800.
