…insists endorsement of President Tinubu not based on any political agreement
By Ismail Azeez
Osun state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has attributed his victory at the August 15,2026 gubernatorial polls primarily to his personal rapport with the electorate, dismissing claims that political machinery alone carried him to office.
The declaration of the Governor as the winner of the Osun State governorship election has reshaped the state’s politics defying several pre-election projections.
Contesting on the platform of the Accord Party, Adeleke polled 511,067 votes across the state’s 30 Local Government Areas to secure his mandate.
The Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Olalekan Ogunwole, officially returned Adeleke elected after certifying that he fulfilled all statutory requirements.
Adeleke defeated his primary challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 444,815 votes securing a winning margin of 66,252 votes by carrying 19 local government areas against the APC’s 11.
Following the announcement, widespread celebrations erupted across major towns, most prominently in Osogbo and Ede.
Jubilant residents and motorcades flooded key corridors, waving party flags and chanting solidarity slogans to mark the victory. For many supporters, the outcome signaled a decisive voter preference that resisted reported inducements and intense campaign pressure from the opposition.
Political analysts attribute the governor’s successful re-election to a combination of incumbency advantages, strategic governance policies, and strong grassroots goodwill.
Over his first term, the administration prioritized visible infrastructure projects, expanded health insurance coverage to civil servants and traditional rulers, and maintained regular engagements with retirees and the organized labor force.
Public sympathy also played a notable role in consolidating Adeleke’s support base.
Perceptions that opposition elements attempted to stifle local council administration by restricting council funds, coupled with allegations of efforts to undermine state-backed infrastructure projects, generated a protective sentiment among significant segments of the electorate.
Consequently, the APC’s extensive campaign apparatus and state-level alignments failed to offset the administration’s localized momentum.
Reflecting on the factors behind his victory during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Tonight on Sunday, Governor Adeleke attributed the outcome to an authentic connection with the people.
“It is my personality. I give my people joy. I love them, and they love me back.”
“The love is organic, and sometimes it moves me to tears. I decided to work tirelessly so as not to disappoint the people of Osun,” Adeleke stated.
Adeleke further noted that the opposition underestimated his ability to deliver by fixating solely on his dancing.
He emphasized that he capitalized on that misjudgment proving critics wrong through disciplined governance, consistent welfare delivery, and sustained community engagement.
The Governor further dismissed rumours of a move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) noting that, “it is not on his mind currently.”
Adeleke also added that his endorsement of President Tinubu is not politically motivated noting that he has no political agreement with the President.
“The President is from Osun and I feel I must support him. It is a personal decision and I am willing to work with the Osun APC to deliver Osun for the President. Anyway the Oresident wants me to come in, I am willing,” he added.