Osun 2026: Jubilation as Governor Adeleke emerges Accord Governorship candidate

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Accord party for the 2026 gubernatorial election following a primary monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other observers in Osogbo.

Adeleke, who ran as the sole aspirant for the position, polled 145 votes, with five votes voided, to clinch the ticket.

The result was announced by the Electoral Committee Secretary of the Accord Governorship Primary, Abdulazeez Salaudeen, who certified the process as being in strict accordance with the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act.

"By the power conferred on me as the electoral chairman of this primary election, I hereby announce that, having been certified in accordance with the party guidelines and the Electoral Act, and having secured the highest number of votes, I declare Senator Jackson Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke the winner of the election," Salaudeen declared.

He noted that the committee had fulfilled its mandate to conduct a free, fair, and credible primary to "take Osun to the next level."

In his acceptance speech, Governor Adeleke described his nomination as the launch of a "battle for continuity of progress, good governance, and democratic dividends."

He emphasized that his administration represents a government of talk and do that has actualized the aspirations of the people over the last three years.
Challenging his potential opponents to run on their records, the Governor highlighted the statistical achievements of his tenure.

"I am proud to run on my records of achievements. That Osun moved from number 33 under the APC government to number 7 under my leadership in a national examination rating cannot be disputed," Adeleke stated.

He further noted that his government has reduced the state's infrastructure deficit from over 80 percent in 2022 to just over 40 percent as of 2025, and has paid off over 40 percent of the debt inherited from the previous administration, a claim he said is confirmed by the Debt Management Office.

Additionally, he cited the state's ranking as first in access to primary healthcare across the Southwest.

"In the forthcoming polls, I challenge likely opponents to run on their records... In their days in power, they failed the people; they failed their party; they even failed themselves," he added.

The National Chairman of Accord, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, formally presented the Certificate of Return to Governor Adeleke. Mgbudem described the Governor’s emergence as divine and expressed strong optimism that Adeleke would resoundingly win his re-election in 2026.

He praised the peaceful conduct of the exercise as confirmation that Accord is a party of due process and internal democracy, urging other political parties to emulate such conduct.

Following the declaration, Osogbo erupted in celebration as Governor Adeleke led an unannounced show of street credibility through the capital city.

Residents swarmed the Governor's convoy as he drove from the Stadium area through Igboona and Okefia to the Government House.

The atmosphere was carnival-like, with the National Leaders of the Accord party joining the procession, some even marching on foot with the massive crowd. The air was filled with chants of "Accord, tesojue," "Ibo, ibo," and "Imole lekansi."

At Igboona, the chairman of the artisans' group stopped the convoy to hail the party, while market women at Alekuwodo, led by the Iyaloja, held a brief prayer session for the Governor. From Orisunmibare to Olaiya, the convoy moved at a snail's speed as residents, students, and shop owners abandoned their wares to join the chorus of "Accord, Accord, Accord."

The procession, which saw hundreds of Accord caps and flags distributed to the cheering crowd, underscored the Governor's grassroots support as the race for 2026 officially gathers momentum.