Osun Election: APC Rejects Adeleke’s Victory, Reviews INEC Result

 

Osun Election Aftermath: APC Rejects Adeleke’s Victory, Begins Review of Results

By PrimeNews247 News Desk
August 18, 2026

The political atmosphere in Osun State remains tense following the August 15, 2026 governorship election, after the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejected the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which returned incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke for another term.

INEC declared Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, the winner after he secured 511,067 votes, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. Adeleke therefore won by a margin of 66,252 votes. He secured victory in 19 of the state's 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.

However, the APC campaign organisation in Osun has refused to accept the outcome, saying it believes Adeleke did not obtain the highest number of valid votes.

APC Begins Review of Election Results

The Director-General of the APC governorship campaign in Osun State, Oluwole Oke, said the party is currently reviewing the election results and other records before deciding on its next course of action.

Oke said the APC would not be pressured into congratulating Adeleke while the review is ongoing. The party's position is that it disagrees with INEC's declaration and believes the election results require further examination.

The APC campaign team has indicated that it will study the available result sheets and reports from its agents before determining whether further action, including a possible legal challenge, is necessary.

INEC's Declaration Remains the Official Result

Despite the APC's rejection, INEC's declared result remains the official outcome of the election unless it is subsequently overturned through the appropriate legal process.

According to the declared figures, Adeleke received 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji received 444,815 votes. The ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third with 17,180 votes.

The result gives Adeleke another four-year term as governor of Osun State.

Adeleke Celebrates Re-election

Following INEC's declaration, Adeleke celebrated his victory and described it as a mandate from the people of Osun State.

The governor said his re-election represented an appreciation by the electorate for his administration and described the outcome as a victory for democracy.

Adeleke's victory also makes the election significant in the political build-up to Nigeria's 2027 general elections, with Osun remaining an important battleground in the South-West.

Political Dispute Could Continue

The APC's decision to review the results means the political contest may continue beyond election day.

For now, the party has not announced that it has filed an election petition. Instead, its campaign organisation says it is examining the results and will determine its next step after completing its assessment.

This distinction is important. APC's rejection of the result does not, by itself, cancel INEC's declaration. Any attempt to overturn the declared result would have to follow Nigeria's established electoral dispute process.

Calls for Investigation Into Election-Related Issues

The aftermath of the election has also generated calls for investigations into reported violence and other concerns surrounding the electoral process.

Civil society organisations and lawmakers have called for investigations into reported incidents of violence connected to the election and greater scrutiny of campaign spending and security arrangements.

These calls add another layer to the post-election debate as political parties and other stakeholders assess the conduct and outcome of the poll.

What Happens Next?

The next major development will likely come from the APC after it completes its review of the election results.

The party could accept the declared outcome, issue further complaints or pursue the matter through the appropriate legal channel, depending on what its review establishes.

For Adeleke, the focus will now shift towards consolidating his electoral mandate and preparing for another term in office.

For the APC, the coming days will be crucial as it determines whether its objections to the election result can be supported by evidence sufficient to justify further action.

For now, Ademola Adeleke remains the winner of the Osun governorship election as declared by INEC, while the APC maintains that it does not accept the result and is reviewing the election.

PrimeNews247 will continue to monitor the development and report verified updates as they emerge.

Source note: PrimeNews247's report is independently written and based on current reports from multiple news sources; it does not reproduce another publication's article word-for-word.