Adeleke, Oyebamiji In Tight Race As Results Roll In

• Gov, Ex-NIWA boss, Akande win polling units; Oyinlola, Aregbeshola lose
• Why we chose to vote – Elderly voters
• Yiaga Africa, Kukah Centre, others commend turnout, peaceful poll as INEC uploads 87.48% votes

  By Ademu Idakwo, Abuja, Joshua Dada, Adebayo Waheed, Damilola Origbemisuyi,  Osogbo

The governorship election in Osun State ended on Saturday with early results indicating a tight contest between incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

With results still being uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal, both camps recorded victories at their respective polling units, while results from other locations showed mixed outcomes.

INEC has 3,763 polling units across the state. As of the latest update monitored on the IReV portal, results from 3292 units, representing 87.48 per cent, had been uploaded, while 471 units, or 12.52 per cent, were yet to be reflected.

The incomplete figures made it too early to determine the overall winner as collation continued.

In one of the results monitored, Accord scored 164 votes against APC’s 50 at the Technical College Polling Unit, Ataoja Ward E, Osogbo Local Government Area.

At the Primary School Polling Unit, Igbaye Ward 1, Odo-Otin LGA, Accord also led APC, 164 to 134.

In Ifedayo LGA, Accord scored 182 votes against APC’s 114 at the Centre Maternity Polling Unit, Oke-Ila 1, Balogun Ward. However, APC won at Balogun Ward SDA Primary School, where it polled 128 against Accord’s 105.

At Aworo/Oke-Ila Grammar School II, also in Ifedayo, APC scored 146 votes against Accord’s 110.

In Ede North LGA, Accord secured 357 votes against APC’s 94 at Amosun Compound Polling Unit, while at Olognagbaakin Polling Unit, Odumaye Square, Accord scored 218 against APC’s 78.

At Market Square Polling Unit, Ijeda/Iloko Ward, Oriade LGA, Accord polled 159 votes against APC’s 139, while at Open Space BAA-Isale Area, Elejigbo A Ward, Ejigbo LGA, Accord scored 78 against APC’s 54.

Governor Adeleke secured 421 votes at Ward 02, Polling Unit 009, Abogunde Compound, Ede North LGA.

Former governor and ex-Interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, also won his polling unit at Ita Atewogbade II, Isedo II Registration Area, Ila LGA, where the APC secured 181 votes.

But former governor and ADC national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, lost his polling unit.

At Ifofin Ward 8, Unit 1, Isare, Ilesa East LGA, APC polled 256 votes, Accord 43, while ADC secured only 13 votes.

Former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola also lost his Polling Unit 003, Ward 01, Okuku, Odo-Otin LGA, to Accord. Oyinlola had recently shifted his support from Adeleke to Oyebamiji.

Heavy turnout, peaceful voting

The results followed a largely peaceful election characterised by impressive voter turnout across the state, despite a tense build-up that had witnessed killings, violence and inflammatory comments by political actors.

Voters across the 30 local government areas turned out to elect the next occupant of the Bola Ige Government House for a four-year term.

Fifteen political parties were listed on the ballot, although two candidates had withdrawn from the race.

Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) endorsed Oyebamiji, while Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) backed Adeleke. Both parties, however, remained on the ballot.

In Osun Central Senatorial District, voting was generally peaceful, with large numbers of voters turning out in Osogbo and other communities.

INEC officials arrived promptly in most locations, while electoral materials were generally adequate. Security agencies were also heavily deployed and largely maintained a professional presence.

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH), comprising the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), International Press Centre (IPC), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre (TKC) and Yiaga Africa, described the election as a critical test of the new electoral legal framework and a bellwether for the 2027 general election.

The observers said that of the 823 polling units where they were deployed, officials with complete sets of sensitive and non-sensitive materials were present in 726 units.

They reported that officials arrived with all required materials, including ballot papers, result sheets, BVAS, voting cubicles, voters’ registers, official stamps and ink pads, in 608 units, representing 83.7 per cent, between 7:30 am and 8:00 am.

Officials arrived between 8:00 am and 8:30 am in 75 units (10.3 per cent), and between 8:30 am and 11:00 am in 42 units (5.7 per cent).

One polling unit had yet to open by 11:00am due to the failure of election personnel and materials to arrive.

On BVAS, the Hub said 58 devices, representing 7.9 per cent of those observed, malfunctioned, but 41, or 70.7 per cent, were subsequently rectified.

“The Hub observers reported that voter turnout was impressive and that the elections were mostly peaceful and orderly, with the deployment of effective crowd-control measures by election officials and security personnel,” it said.

An average of three security personnel were deployed at the observed polling units. Although most were described as professional, the observers reported alleged cases of voter intimidation at three polling units in Ejigbo and Osogbo.

The observers said they would release a comprehensive report after the results are declared.

Candidates commend process

Speaking after voting at Ward 7, Unit 3, Osogbo LGA, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, commended INEC for the timely deployment of personnel and materials.

He also praised voters and security agencies, describing the process as calm and hitch-free.

APC leader in Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, who voted at Ward 1, Unit 10, Iragbiji, Boripe LGA, at about 10:30 am, commended the turnout and peaceful conduct.

“I am encouraged by the turnout of voters. It shows that our people are interested in the democratic process and are determined to exercise their civic responsibility.

“I am also pleased with the peaceful manner in which people have conducted themselves so far. Osun is a peaceful state, and I appeal to everyone to maintain this spirit throughout the election and after the results are announced,” he said.

The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Teslim Igbalaye, also expressed satisfaction with the turnout and peaceful conduct but raised concerns about the slow performance of BVAS at his polling unit.

APC deputy governorship candidate, Kayode Adereti, who voted at Ward 11, Unit 3, Ilare, Ife Central LGA, described the turnout as impressive and praised the security arrangements and BVAS performance.

“The turnout is impressive, and the security is perfect. The BVAS is working well, and everyone is happy here,” he said.

Oyebamiji, who voted at Ward 9, Irewole LGA, at 10:42 am, also commended the peaceful conduct of voters and officials.

“I have just voted, and I can see that people came out here. Every process is going peacefully. The INEC officials, voters, police, and security operatives are here.

“So far, my assessment is that everything is going peacefully here, especially at this unit,” he said.

He added that reports from other polling units indicated the election was generally peaceful, with security personnel intervening when attempts were made to disrupt the process.

His wife, Dr Sekinah Oyebamiji, also praised the turnout and expressed confidence in her husband’s victory after voting at the same polling unit.

Adeleke raises alarm, Oyebamiji urges calm

Governor Adeleke arrived at his polling unit, Abogunde Compound, Ede North LGA, at about 8:29 am and cast his ballot at 8:32 am.

He alleged that the APC planned to move results to a collation centre rather than at the local government level and raised an alarm about a police officer allegedly brought from Port Harcourt to disrupt voting in Ede.

“I want to raise the alarm over the presence of one police officer from Port Harcourt, simply identified as London, to disrupt voting in Ede, his country home,” Adeleke said.

He added: “However, I have received some information from my people in Osun State that there is a police officer called London from Port Harcourt who was brought to the state to destroy my town, Ede, and disrupt the voting process.”

Ejigbo violence, BVAS glitches mar exercise

Despite the largely peaceful exercise, voting in Ejigbo was disrupted after violence broke out at a polling unit, forcing voters, residents and INEC officials to flee.

The incident reportedly began after a youth discovered materials allegedly linked to vote-buying and said to belong to the APC. Tension escalated when people allegedly associated with the materials arrived and attempted to take the youth away.

Video footage showed residents fleeing as motorcycles and vehicles moved through the area. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured.

BVAS malfunctions and allegations of vote-buying were also reported in some polling units.

At Ward 3, Unit 6, Ijebu-Jesa, Oriade LGA, about six elderly voters reportedly struggled to have their faces captured by BVAS, forcing them to wait for another attempt.

The Presiding Officer, Ogunsakin Femi, appealed to them to remain patient and retry the process.

One of the affected voters, 71-year-old Ajayi Omopariola, said: “I am not happy about the delay, but I am ready to wait until I am accredited and allowed to vote.”

Another voter, 80-year-old Omoniyi Kehinde Joshua, also waited after the BVAS failed to capture his face.

At Ijamo Ward 5, Unit 1, a 48-year-old physically challenged voter, Oluwatoyin Fapohunda, was among those who exercised their franchise.

Voters express confidence, concerns

Commercial motorist, Balogun Odedele, told LEADERSHIP Sunday in Osogbo that he was pleased with the turnout and peaceful conduct.

He said he had trekked a long distance to vote after travelling away from his polling unit, adding that he was surprised by the number of voters who shared his determination.

A civil servant in Gbongan, Kola Toorera, said the election was peaceful but expressed concern over the credibility of the electoral process, recalling a previous election in which the result of his preferred candidate was allegedly overturned overnight.

Pastor Gideon Ibokun described the peaceful election as an answered prayer and urged Osun residents to accept whoever emerges as the winner.

However, voter Taiwo Samson Boluwatife alleged that an attempt was made to buy his vote after he cast his ballot. He said he rejected the offer and described the voting process at his polling unit as free, fair and peaceful.

Despite the BVAS challenges and isolated incidents, voters turned out in large numbers across the state, leaving the final outcome dependent on the remaining results to be collated and announced by INEC.