Adeleke Pledges Greater Performance, Reaches Out to Opponents After Re-election

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has assured the people of the state that he will not disappoint them following his re-election, pledging to consolidate his administration’s achievements and correct identified shortcomings

Adeleke made the commitment on Sunday at a press conference after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the August 15 governorship election.

The governor said the election came after months of intense pressure on the people of Osun State, dedicating his victory to residents for their resilience and commitment to democracy.

“In the last few months, Osun people have been under very intense pressure. Today, the issues are settled by the grace of God and people.

“I, therefore, dedicate this victory to the good people of Osun State. I deeply appreciate your resilience, your strong will, and your unwavering commitment to democracy,” he said.

Adeleke promised that his second term would focus on strengthening areas where his administration had performed well while addressing its weaknesses.

“As you have trusted me again for the second term in office, I will not disappoint you. To serve you better, I will reinforce my strong points and correct my errors under my renewed five-point agenda,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to supporters of democracy in Nigeria and abroad, as well as members of the media, for their roles in the electoral process.

The governor said the support he received had further strengthened his confidence in democracy, while media coverage helped promote the democratic process.

Adeleke also extended an olive branch to his opponents, declaring that he would govern for the benefit of all residents irrespective of their political affiliations.

“Osun State is on the march again. We shall expand development and widen the net of good governance. In this race, there is no victor, no vanquished. I extend my olive branch to my co-contestants. I am the governor of all Osun State people,” he said.

He reiterated his vision of transforming Osun from a predominantly civil service state into an industrial and investment destination.

Adeleke was declared the winner at about 7:24 a.m. on Sunday by the State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

The Accord Party candidate secured 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 444,815 votes

Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11. The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

The victory gives Adeleke another four years in office after his initial election as governor in 2022 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He contested the 2026 election under the Accord Party.