Oyebamiji accepts result in Osun election, backs APC review and urges supporters to remain calm after Adeleke secured a 66,252-vote victory
Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, has accepted the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the Osun State governorship election, while backing the APC’s ongoing review of the result in Osogbo on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
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Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, secured 511,067 votes in the August 15 election, defeating Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The margin was 66,252 votes.
The result gave Adeleke a second four-year term after he won the governorship in 2022. He secured victory in 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.
In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, Oyebamiji thanked APC leaders, members, volunteers and supporters for what he described as their steadfast commitment throughout the campaign.
“Although we had hoped for a different outcome in the election, in the meantime, we respect the position of the electoral umpire and I totally support the decision of our party in its ongoing review of the outcome of the election,” Oyebamiji said.
His position leaves room for the APC to examine the election further, even as he acknowledged INEC’s declared result.
The party has said it is reviewing the outcome and considering its next course of action.
Oyebamiji also sought to keep his supporters calm, urging them to remain peaceful and focused on their communities after a closely contested campaign.
“The campaign has come to an end and the election is over, but the values and causes we championed are alive. We will continue to work for effective, inclusive and rapid development of our dear Osun,” he said.
The APC candidate’s statement also carried a warning about the security situation following the election.
Oyebamiji alleged that hostility towards APC members and supporters had intensified in the 24 hours after the poll.
“The violence attacks on our members witnessed in the build-up to the election has taken another dimension in the last 24 hours,” he said, calling on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to intervene.
The allegation comes against the backdrop of a high-stakes election that involved 15 political parties, although the contest was largely dominated by Adeleke and Oyebamiji.
Oyebamiji, a former Osun commissioner for finance and former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, had emerged as the APC’s candidate for the election.
Adeleke’s victory was particularly significant given the political history between the APC and the Adeleke camp.
In 2022, Adeleke defeated the then APC governor, Gboyega Oyetola, to take control of the state.
This year’s contest saw Adeleke return to the governorship under the Accord Party rather than the Peoples Democratic Party, the platform on which he won in 2022.
The final figures show the scale of voter participation. INEC records cited by election data sources put registered voters at more than 2.3 million, with 1,005,800 votes cast, including 985,079 valid votes and 20,721 rejected ballots.
For now, Oyebamiji’s response combines acceptance of INEC’s declaration with support for his party’s scrutiny of the process.
His appeal for calm also provides a measured response as political parties assess the result and the possibility of further action.
For the APC, the review could determine whether the party proceeds with a formal challenge.
Also read: Fayose Alleges APC Spent ₦60bn on Osun Vote Buying
For Oyebamiji, however, Tuesday’s statement marked a significant shift from the intensity of the campaign to a more conciliatory post-election tone.
