Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State appeared on course for victory in the state’s governorship election as results uploaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed him establishing a commanding lead over his closest challenger, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
As of 2.06 a.m. on Sunday, INEC had uploaded results from 3,612 polling units, representing 95.99 per cent of the 3,763 polling units in the state, to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
With results from only 151 polling units yet to be uploaded, Adeleke, candidate of the Accord Party, had polled 509,057 votes, representing 51.7 per cent of the votes available on IReV.
Oyebamiji had 425,879 votes, or 43.2 per cent, leaving Adeleke with a lead of more than 80,000 votes at that stage of the process.
African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam was a distant third with 17,393 votes, representing 1.8 per cent.
The figures, however, remained provisional pending the completion of collation and formal declaration of the winner by INEC.
Results available on IReV indicated that Adeleke was leading in 21 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji was ahead in nine.
The emerging outcome came despite a formidable APC campaign effort that drew about 10 governors and leading figures of the ruling party to Osun to canvass support for Oyebamiji.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas were among senior APC figures who campaigned for the party’s candidate.
Governors who joined the campaign included Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, Usman Ododo of Kogi State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State and Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State. Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was represented by his deputy, Monday Onyeme.
The election, conducted across the state’s 30 LGAs, was widely regarded as principally a two-way contest between incumbent Adeleke and Oyebamiji, although 15 political parties fielded candidates.
While the poll was not characterised by widespread violence, there were reports of isolated disturbances, alleged vote-buying, shootings and intimidation.
Aregbesola, Omisore Lose Polling Units
Former Osun State Governor and ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola lost his polling unit to the APC.
At Polling Unit 001, Cooperative Building Junction, Isare, Ward 08 in Ilesa East LGA, where Aregbesola voted, Oyebamiji secured 256 votes.
Adeleke came second with 43 votes, while ADC candidate Salaam polled 13 votes.
Former Osun deputy governor and former APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore also lost his polling unit, this time to Adeleke’s Accord Party.
At Polling Unit 003, Ife Ward 1, Moore, St. Gabriel Primary School in Ife East LGA, Accord polled 131 votes against APC’s 85, while ADC recorded 10 votes.
Temporary IReV Upload Halt Sparks Concern
Tension had risen earlier after the uploading of results to IReV appeared to stop when results from 3,292 of the 3,763 polling units, representing 87.48 per cent, had been uploaded.
Adeleke’s Imole Campaign Council subsequently alleged there was a plot to have the election declared inconclusive.
Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, also questioned the delay, saying in a post on X that IReV uploads had remained at 3,292 polling units for almost two hours and demanding an explanation from INEC.
The commission later resumed uploading results, with the figure reaching 3,612 polling units by early Sunday.
INEC: 207 Polling Units Experienced Delays
INEC said 207 of the 3,763 polling units experienced minor delays in commencing voting.
According to an election situation report issued by the commission, 3,556 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent, had opened by 8.30 a.m.
The remaining 207 polling units, or 5.5 per cent, had become operational by 9 a.m., according to the commission.
Oyebamiji Hails Voter Turnout, Expresses Confidence
Oyebamiji, meanwhile, praised the turnout of voters in his hometown, Ikire, saying the level of participation demonstrated that residents had not been intimidated.
The APC candidate spoke after voting at Open Space Gantry, Sawmill, Ward 009, Polling Unit 011, Ikire, in Irewole LGA.
“INEC are here, the voters are here, security operatives are here; I want to commend the large turnout of voters in Ikire. It shows that people are not intimidated, and generally, things are going on fine across the state,” he said.
He urged security agencies to remain proactive amid concerns about possible violence and expressed confidence that he would ultimately win the election.
Adeleke’s Campaign Alleges Arrest of 52 Supporters
Director-General of the Imole Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi, alleged during voting that 52 people had been arrested at the residence of the lawmaker representing Irewole/Isokan State Constituency, Ibrahim Inaolaji, in Ikire.
Oyewumi alleged that about 24 police officers stormed the residence in the early hours, damaged its gate and arrested people gathered there, including family members, supporters and the Accord Party chairman in the local government.
He also alleged that Accord Party agents and voters were attacked at some polling units in Ikire after voting commenced.
The allegations had not been independently verified at the time of filing the report.
Shooting Causes Panic at Osogbo Collation Centre
There was also sporadic shooting at the premises of Union Baptist Primary School, venue of the Ataoja D Ward 4 collation centre in Osogbo.
The gunshots, reportedly fired by security personnel between about 9.15 p.m. and 9.30 p.m., forced residents and others around the centre to flee for safety.
It was not immediately clear what triggered the incident.
ADC Candidate Alleges Exclusion of Agents
ADC candidate Salaam also raised concerns about the alleged non-recognition of his party’s agents in several parts of the state.
Salaam said he received reports that ADC agents were not recognised in 10 LGAs despite the party having uploaded their names before the election.
He said the matter had been reported to the relevant authorities.
Salaam also denied allegations that his party engaged in vote-buying, insisting that the ADC had concentrated on selling its programmes to voters and allowing them to make their choices freely.
Dike Onwuamaeze, Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos and Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
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