The governor dedicates his second-term victory to Osun residents and pledges to build on his achievements while correcting his shortcomings

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Sunday pledged to strengthen his administration and correct its shortcomings after securing a second term, dedicating his victory to residents and promising that their renewed confidence in his leadership would not be misplaced.

Also read: BREAKING: INEC declares Accord’s Adeleke winner of Osun governorship election

Adeleke made the commitment at a press conference in Osogbo after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared him winner of the August 15 governorship election, saying the result brought an end to months of intense political pressure across the state.

The governor, who contested under the Accord Party, secured 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.

The 66,252-vote margin gave Adeleke a decisive victory after he won 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11. African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salam finished third with 17,180 votes.

Reflecting on the contest, Adeleke said the result belonged primarily to the people who had supported his administration through a demanding electoral period.

“In the last few months, Osun people have been under very intense pressure. Today, the issues are settled by the grace of God and people,” he said.

“I, therefore, dedicate this victory to the good people of Osun State. I deeply appreciate your resilience, your strong will, and your unwavering commitment to democracy.”

The governor said the renewed mandate would not be treated simply as an endorsement of his first term.

Instead, he pledged to use the opportunity to strengthen areas where his administration had performed well while confronting weaknesses that required improvement.

“As you have trusted me again for the second term in office, I will not disappoint you. To serve you better, I will reinforce my strong points and correct my errors under my renewed five-point agenda,” Adeleke said.

The promise comes as the governor prepares to begin another four-year term with the expectations that accompanied his first administration now carrying greater weight.

Adeleke also acknowledged the contribution of Nigerians and democracy supporters outside the state, as well as the media, to the electoral process.

“To all lovers of democracy, I thank you for supporting our struggle from home and abroad. The support is overwhelming. My faith in democracy is deepened,” he said.

“Most importantly, I thank the media for standing by me, by us. The constant coverage in support of democracy emboldened us. We are grateful.”

Beyond thanking his supporters, Adeleke used his victory address to signal an attempt at reconciliation after a closely fought election.

He extended an olive branch to his opponents and sought to frame the result as an opportunity for the state to move beyond the divisions of the campaign.

“Osun State is on the march again. We shall expand development and widen the net of good governance. In this race, there is no victor, no vanquished.

I extend my olive branch to my co-contestants. I am the governor of all Osun State people,” he said.

The governor also restated an economic ambition that has featured prominently in his administration’s vision, saying his goal was to transform Osun from a predominantly civil service state into an industrial and investment destination.

“My vision: taking Osun from a civil service state to an industrial state and an investment destination,” Adeleke said.

The declaration was made at about 7:24am on Sunday by Professor Joshua Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and State Returning Officer for the election.

Adeleke’s second-term victory also represents a notable shift in his political journey.

He won the 2022 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, defeating then incumbent Gboyega Oyetola.

For the 2026 contest, he moved to the Accord Party and successfully defended his position as governor.

The latest result also gave Adeleke a larger numerical advantage than his 2022 victory, when he secured 403,371 votes against Oyetola’s 375,027.

The new mandate therefore gives the governor an opportunity to consolidate projects and policies from his first term while responding to areas where residents and political opponents have raised concerns.

His comments on correcting his mistakes suggest an awareness that a second term carries a different political burden from a first election victory.

The immediate challenge will be translating the confidence reflected in the ballot figures into visible improvements in governance, economic activity and public services.

For the opposition, the election leaves the APC with a significant voter base despite its defeat. Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes and victory in 11 local government areas show that the contest remained competitive across much of the state.

For Adeleke, however, the political contest is now over and the work of governing begins again.

With his declaration secured and his second mandate confirmed, the governor has promised to move beyond the divisions of the campaign and focus on a broader development agenda.

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His message to Osun residents was ultimately one of reassurance: the trust expressed at the polls would be met with renewed effort, stronger governance and a determined attempt to turn the state’s economic potential into lasting opportunity.