The Independent National Electoral Commission has crossed a significant milestone in the Osun State governorship race, uploading 37 percent of the results to its official viewing portal, the IReV. A quick check by our correspondents at exactly 5:27 pm confirmed the commission is staying true to its word, steadily feeding the platform with collated figures as the day unfolds.
Voters across the state turned out today to decide who will occupy the Bola Ige Government House for the next four years. The ballot featured 15 political parties, but the spotlight fell on incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking another term under the banner of the Accord Party.
The contest saw its share of drama even before the polls opened. Two candidates—Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement—pulled out of the race. Adeyemi-Doro threw his weight behind the APC’s Bola Oyebamiji, while Adewale pledged support for Adeleke. Despite their withdrawals, both parties remain on the ballot, leaving voters to navigate a crowded field.
Early signals from the ground point to a tight race. Adeleke clinched victory in his own polling unit, with the Accord Party taking Polling Unit 026, Ward 5, in Osogbo Local Government Area. The official tally there read 57 votes for Accord against 43 for the APC, a slim margin that hints at the broader contest ahead.
As collation continues, results from other polling units are trickling in, painting a fragmented picture of the electorate’s mood. But the day has not been without its blemishes. Reports of intimidation, vote-buying, and scattered incidents of electoral violence have cast a shadow over the process, even as many areas reported smooth and peaceful voting.
For now, all eyes remain on the IReV portal, where the numbers will ultimately tell the story of who gets the keys to the Government House.
