The race for the Osun State governorship is taking a decisive turn, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party building a commanding lead as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) uploads tallies from across the state. With results now in from 24 of the 30 local government areas, Adeleke has pulled ahead with 347,730 votes, leaving his closest rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, trailing at 283,653 votes.
The numbers tell a story of a widening gap. The Accord Party has secured victories in 16 LGAs, while the APC has managed to clinch eight. Trailing far behind in third place is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate with just 13,143 votes, a distant echo of the two-horse race that has defined this contest.
The remaining six LGAs have yet to report in, and election officials are still collating results across the state. The final outcome is expected to be announced late Saturday night or in the early hours of Sunday, but for now, the momentum appears firmly on Adeleke’s side. His supporters, who have been glued to their phones and television screens, are already celebrating what they hope is an insurmountable lead.
The atmosphere in Osun remains tense but orderly, with party agents and observers keeping a close watch on the process. INEC has come under scrutiny in past elections, but so far, the uploads have proceeded without major hitches. The question now is whether the remaining LGAs will tighten the race or simply cement Adeleke’s path to a second term.
For Oyebamiji and the APC, the math is daunting. To overtake Adeleke, they would need a landslide in the remaining six LGAs, a scenario that seems improbable given the current trajectory. Still, party insiders insist that collation is far from over, and they are urging patience until the final count is in.
As the night wears on, all eyes are on INEC’s portal, where each new upload could shift the balance. But for now, Adeleke’s camp is confident, and the numbers back them up.
