President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election in the Osun election, describing the outcome of the August 15, 2026 governorship poll as an expression of voters’ choice and a positive development for Nigeria’s democracy.
Tinubu made the statement on Sunday, August 16, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke of the Accord Party the winner of the election in Osogbo, Osun State. The president also urged the governor to use his second term to bring together residents across political divides and pursue the state’s development.
The presidency said Tinubu personally spoke with Adeleke by telephone before issuing his congratulatory message.
Adeleke defeated his closest challenger, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, in the closely watched governorship contest.
The final figures announced by INEC showed:
- Ademola Adeleke, Accord Party — 511,067 votes
- Bola Oyebamiji, APC — 444,815 votes
- Najeem Salaam, ADC — 17,180 votes
Adeleke therefore defeated Oyebamiji by 66,252 votes.
Returning Officer Joshua Ogunwole declared Adeleke the winner after the completion of the collation process, confirming that the incumbent had secured another four-year mandate.
The result marks a significant political outcome for Adeleke, who secured his first governorship victory in Osun in 2022 and contested the 2026 election under a different political platform.
While congratulating Adeleke, Tinubu shifted attention from the election contest to governance, urging the governor to unite Osun residents irrespective of how they voted.
The president said Adeleke should focus his second term on growth, stability and social and economic development, signalling the need for the governor to move beyond the political divisions that characterised the campaign.
The message is particularly significant because Tinubu is a senior figure in the APC, the party whose candidate finished second in the election. His decision to publicly congratulate an opposition candidate underscores the importance attached to the acceptance of electoral outcomes after the poll.
The president also commended the other candidates, saying their participation contributed to Nigeria’s democratic process.
Tinubu also commended INEC and the security agencies for what he described as the peaceful and transparent conduct of the election.
His position echoes his pre-election call for a credible process. On August 14, two days before the result was declared, the president had urged INEC and security agencies to protect voters and ensure that the Osun election reflected the choice of the electorate.
Tinubu had also described the off-cycle poll as an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
The president’s post-election statement therefore represents a continuation of his earlier position that the Osun contest should produce a credible outcome.
Adeleke’s re-election gives him another four years to pursue his administration’s agenda while facing the expectations that come with a renewed mandate.
The result also carries wider political implications ahead of the 2027 elections. Adeleke’s ability to retain the governorship after moving to the Accord Party will likely attract attention from political parties assessing their strategies for future elections.
For the APC, Oyebamiji’s strong showing demonstrates that the party remains a major force in the state despite failing to reclaim the governorship.
The immediate priorities for the governor will now shift from campaigning to governance, including:
- Rebuilding political relationships after a competitive election.
- Addressing economic and social development needs across Osun.
- Maintaining public confidence in the electoral mandate.
- Working with residents and political stakeholders beyond party lines.
The president’s intervention places emphasis on political reconciliation following the Osun election. Rather than extending the campaign rhetoric, Tinubu’s message focuses on Adeleke’s responsibility to govern supporters and opponents alike.
For Adeleke, the challenge now is to translate his electoral victory into effective governance while maintaining the confidence that secured his second term.
The Osun result also provides another important test of Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of 2027. With the winner declared and the president acknowledging the outcome, attention will now turn to governance, opposition responses and any possible legal challenges arising from the election.
For Osun residents, however, the central issue after the polls is likely to be whether the governor’s second term delivers on the expectations attached to his renewed mandate.
