Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has emerged victorious in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, secured 11 LGAs in the governorship election held on Saturday.
The results put Adeleke ahead of his closest challenger as the Independent National Electoral Commission moves towards the final declaration of the election outcome at the state collation centre in Osogbo.
Although 15 political parties contested the election, the contest largely became a two-horse race between Adeleke and Oyebamiji, with other candidates trailing significantly.
The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished a distant third with 14,989 votes across the state.
The State Returning Officer for the election, Prof Joshua Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, is expected to formally announce the final result after the completion of the collation exercise.
Adeleke recorded some of his strongest performances in Osogbo, Ede North, Ede South, Ife East, Ife Central, Iwo, Egbedore and Odo-Otin, among other LGAs.
Oyebamiji, however, dominated several areas, including Irewole, Boripe, Ilesa East, Obokun, Atakumosa West, Atakumosa East, Olorunda and Ife South.
In Osogbo, Adeleke polled 36,480 votes against Oyebamiji’s 30,474, while in Ede North, the governor secured 35,427 votes compared with the APC candidate’s 10,283.
Adeleke also won Ede South with 26,188 votes to Oyebamiji’s 6,219 and Ife East with 27,201 votes against the APC’s 18,600 votes.
Oyebamiji’s strongest showing included Irewole, where he obtained 29,972 votes, while Adeleke scored 10,934. He also won Ilesa East with 16,208 votes against Adeleke’s 12,280.
In Olorunda, the APC candidate narrowly edged Adeleke, polling 24,671 votes to the governor’s 23,514.
The final declaration by INEC will formally determine the winner of the keenly contested election and pave the way for the next administration in the state.