Tinubu Congratulates Adeleke, Says Osun Victory Reflects People’s Will
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election, saying the outcome of the August 15 governorship election reflects the will and confidence of the people of the state.
Tinubu’s congratulatory message followed the declaration of Adeleke as the winner of the Osun governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Sunday, August 16, 2026.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said Adeleke’s victory confirmed the confidence Osun voters have placed in him.
Tinubu also personally called Adeleke to congratulate him on the election victory and wished him success as he prepares to begin another four-year term in office.
The President further urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to unite the people of Osun State and pursue policies capable of promoting growth, stability and social and economic development across the state.
Tinubu Says Victory Confirms People’s Confidence
According to the President, Adeleke’s victory is an indication that the people of Osun State have expressed confidence in his leadership.
Tinubu said the outcome of the election was also an assurance that democracy would continue to flourish in Nigeria.
The President commended the electoral process and said the peaceful conduct of the election demonstrated the importance of democratic institutions in determining the leadership of the country’s states.
He congratulated Adeleke on what he described as a significant electoral victory and urged him to focus on governance now that the contest had ended.
The President’s message is particularly notable because the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party led by Tinubu, fielded Bola Oyebamiji as its candidate in the Osun governorship election.
Despite the APC candidate’s defeat, Tinubu acknowledged Adeleke’s victory and called on the governor to govern for all residents of Osun State, irrespective of their political affiliations.
Adeleke Wins Re-election
INEC declared Adeleke the winner of the Osun governorship election after he secured 511,067 votes on the platform of the Accord Party.
His closest challenger, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, polled 444,815 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, recorded 17,180 votes.
Adeleke therefore defeated Oyebamiji by 66,252 votes.
The returning officer for the election, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, declared Adeleke the winner at the INEC collation centre in Osogbo after results from the state’s local government areas were collated.
The result gives Adeleke another four years in office after he first became governor following his victory in the 2022 governorship election.
President Calls for Unity in Osun
While congratulating Adeleke, Tinubu stressed the need for the governor to unite Osun residents after a competitive election.
The President urged Adeleke to rally the people of the state towards growth, stability and social and economic progress, regardless of the political choices they made during the election.
The call for unity comes against the backdrop of a closely contested election in which the two leading candidates secured substantial support across the state.
Tinubu’s message effectively shifts the focus from the electoral contest to governance, with the President urging the re-elected governor to concentrate on the development of Osun.
The President’s position also reflects the traditional expectation that candidates and political parties should put electoral competition aside after results have been declared and focus on the interests of citizens.
Tinubu Praises INEC and Security Agencies
The President also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for organising the election and praised security agencies for their role in maintaining peace during the exercise.
Tinubu said the election demonstrated the importance of credible electoral institutions and the ability of Nigerians to resolve political contests through the ballot.
The President’s commendation comes amid ongoing debates about electoral credibility, voter participation and the independence of electoral institutions in Nigeria.
By recognising the outcome and congratulating the winner, Tinubu signalled acceptance of the result declared by the electoral commission.
He also acknowledged the contribution of security agencies in ensuring that the election was conducted without major disruption.
Adeleke Thanks Tinubu
Adeleke, in his remarks following his victory, also acknowledged Tinubu’s role in the election.
The governor disclosed that the President had personally called him to congratulate him after the election.
Adeleke expressed appreciation to Tinubu and described the President as a son of Osun State.
He subsequently reaffirmed his earlier endorsement of Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.
The development is politically significant because Adeleke contested the Osun governorship election under the Accord Party, while Tinubu is associated with the APC.
Adeleke’s support for Tinubu therefore represents a political position that cuts across the immediate party competition witnessed during the Osun election.
Political Implications Ahead of 2027
Tinubu’s congratulatory message and Adeleke’s renewed endorsement of the President could attract considerable attention ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The South-West remains an important political region in Nigeria, and Osun is one of the six states that make up the geopolitical zone.
Tinubu’s political support in the region will be closely watched as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.
Adeleke’s endorsement is particularly notable because the APC lost the Osun governorship election despite Tinubu being the party’s national leader.
The governor’s decision to publicly support Tinubu’s second-term ambition indicates that the political alliances ahead of 2027 may not necessarily follow the same lines as state-level electoral contests.
However, Adeleke’s endorsement represents his stated political position and should not automatically be interpreted as the position of every political stakeholder in Osun State.
APC Candidate Concedes Electoral Ground
The APC candidate, Oyebamiji, put up a strong challenge but ultimately fell short of Adeleke’s statewide vote total.
With 444,815 votes, Oyebamiji demonstrated that the APC remained a major political force in Osun despite losing the governorship contest.
The results showed that the election was not a one-sided contest, with Oyebamiji winning a number of local government areas across the state.
Adeleke’s ability to secure the overall majority, however, gave him the margin required to retain the governorship.
The election outcome is likely to prompt political parties to review their strategies ahead of subsequent elections, particularly the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu’s Message to Adeleke
Tinubu’s message to Adeleke also comes with expectations regarding the governor’s second-term agenda.
The President urged Adeleke to use the next four years to promote development and unite Osun residents.
For Adeleke, the renewed mandate provides an opportunity to consolidate policies introduced during his first term and pursue new initiatives aimed at improving the state’s economy and public services.
The governor has previously highlighted areas including infrastructure, education, agriculture, healthcare, workers’ welfare and economic development as important components of his administration’s agenda.
His second term is therefore expected to focus on delivering tangible improvements to residents across the state.
Election Marks New Phase for Osun
The conclusion of the governorship election marks the beginning of a new political phase in Osun State.
The campaign period has ended, and attention will now shift towards governance and the implementation of campaign promises.
Tinubu’s call for unity reinforces the need for the governor to work with political opponents, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, businesses and residents to advance the state’s development.
The President also encouraged Adeleke to rally the people around common objectives rather than allowing political differences from the election to undermine governance.
Such an approach could help reduce political tensions and create room for cooperation between the state government and stakeholders across party lines.
What Adeleke’s Re-election Means
Adeleke’s re-election gives him an additional four years to pursue his administration’s development agenda.
It also provides political continuity in Osun State, with the same administration remaining in control after the 2026 election.
The governor will now face the challenge of meeting the expectations of both those who supported him and voters who backed other candidates.
His ability to deliver on campaign promises will likely become a major measure of his second-term performance.
The President’s congratulatory message has also placed emphasis on inclusive governance, with Tinubu specifically urging Adeleke to represent all Osun residents regardless of their voting choices.
Democracy and Electoral Competition
Tinubu’s reaction also highlights the broader significance of the Osun election for Nigeria’s democratic process.
Competitive elections allow voters to determine who governs them and provide an avenue for political parties to test their popularity.
The peaceful transition from campaigning to the announcement of results is an important component of democratic governance.
By congratulating the declared winner, Tinubu recognised the outcome announced by INEC and encouraged the re-elected governor to focus on governance.
The President’s commendation of INEC and the security agencies further underlined the importance of credible elections to Nigeria’s democratic development.
Conclusion
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election as Osun State governor, describing the victory as confirmation of the confidence the people of the state have in him.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes, in the August 15 governorship election.
Tinubu personally called Adeleke to congratulate him and urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to unite the people of Osun State and pursue growth, stability and social and economic progress.
The President also commended INEC and security agencies for the conduct of the election, describing the outcome as evidence that democracy can continue to thrive in Nigeria.
Adeleke, in response, thanked Tinubu and reaffirmed his support for the President’s bid for a second term in 2027, describing Tinubu as a son of Osun State.
The exchange between the two leaders comes at a politically significant time as parties and politicians begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For Osun State, however, the immediate priority is governance. With the election concluded and Adeleke returned to office, the governor is now expected to use his second term to fulfil his campaign promises, unite the state and accelerate development across Osun.
