Gainers, Losers After Adeleke’s Victory

The conclusion of last Saturday’s intensely contested Osun governorship election left in its trail winners and losers, a development that is almost certain to reshape the political landscape of the state.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, polled a total of 511,067 votes to emerge the winner of the election. He defeated his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, who won in 11 local government areas of the state.

WINNERS

Governor Adeleke

Adeleke, popularly known in political circles as Imole, is the prime winner. Having moved confidently from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party that initially brought him to power in 2022, to the Accord Party as its flag bearer in the election after his rumoured planned defection to the APC was thwarted by party chieftains in the state, Adeleke secured a second term.

However, many political pundits believe that Adeleke did enough in his first tenure to win this major political contest, which was determined by the people of the state, who capitalised on his achievements in just four years, directed their votes towards him and returned the governor to office for another four years.

The governor, who is not just a product of dancing and entertainment, expressed confidence that his unwavering commitment to workers’ welfare in the state, continuity in infrastructure projects, education reforms, amiable personality and grassroots engagement would earn him a second term. Those efforts eventually paid off.

Adedeji Adeleke

Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, billionaire businessman, founder of Pacific Holdings and father of pop star Davido, is considered another key winner of the contest. He is widely viewed by political analysts and opposition figures as a powerful behind-the-scenes influence supporting his younger brother.

Over time, as the head of the wealthy Adeleke family from Ede, Osun State, his immense financial resources and stature provided the much-needed impetus to sustain the family’s political dynasty, thus making it easier for members of the family to seamlessly attain such far-reaching political heights.

David Adeleke (Davido)

Afrobeats artiste David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, played a significant role in securing victory for his uncle, the incumbent Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in the governorship election held on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

He was appointed in April 2026 as the Head of Youth Mobilisation for his uncle’s campaign council ahead of the 2026 governorship election. His supportive role in driving youth engagement for the governor’s re-election campaign helped to guarantee grassroots mobilisation.

Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi (Campaign Spokesman and Reps Candidate)

Mr Olajengbesi was the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council in the governorship election. He was not only highly vocal in his support for Governor Adeleke’s second-term bid, but also ensured that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Accord Party recorded a decisive victory at his polling unit.

For instance, at PU 004, St. Matthew Primary School B, Ijebu-Jesa, Ward 03, Oriade Local Government Area, where Mr Olajengbesi voted, Accord polled 287 votes, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 87 votes.

With this feat, it is believed that his political ambition to contest the House of Representatives election is on a firm trajectory towards victory.

Ataoja of Osogbo, Timi of Ede

While traditional rulers in Nigeria are constitutionally and traditionally expected to remain neutral father figures, the reality in the Osun governorship election was that two frontline monarchs — the traditional ruler of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Laaroye, and the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, the traditional ruler of Ede, Adeleke’s hometown — openly engaged in partisan politics and consistently supported and influenced the electorate to vote for the governor.

Osun Workers/Voters

Osun workers remain major winners in the political contest. They saw it as payback time to reward the governor for his unwavering commitment to their welfare.

Not leaving anything to chance, Governor Ademola Adeleke had asked all workers in the state to mobilise their relatives and friends to vote massively for him on election day and defend their votes to ensure continuity of good governance across sectors in the state.

Senator Lere Oyewumi

Another political gladiator in the contest was Senator Lere Oyewumi, who was the Director-General of the Accord Party’s Imole Campaign Council and represents Osun West in the Senate.

At his polling unit in Ikire, the hometown of APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, Accord Party polled 320 votes against  APC’s 156 votes at the Sunmoye Primary School polling unit.

Accord Party

The party had a remarkable outing in the election, making history as it secured its first governorship victory in Osun State.

Despite being factionalised, the party provided the platform for Adeleke’s re-election bid after his exit from the PDP.

LOSERS

Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji

Of course, the major loser of the election remains Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer and two-term former Osun Commissioner for Finance, who won 11 LGAs and polled 444,815 votes but was defeated by the incumbent governor.

If the zoning pattern in the state is anything to go by, his defeat in the election transcends the current setback because he is from the same zone as the incumbent governor.

Adegboyega Oyetola

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is another big loser. He was defeated by Adeleke as a sitting governor in 2022.

Many believed he backed Oyebamiji to take his pound of flesh from the incumbent four years after he left office.

Olagunsoye Oyinlola

The former Osun governor (2003–2010) and PDP chieftain sent tongues wagging when he suddenly shifted his support to the APC candidate ahead of the poll, endorsing Oyebamiji alongside other leaders and citing the need for a different direction.

In a lacklustre outing, Oyinlola voted at Polling Unit 003, Ward 01, Court Hall 1, Okuku, in Odo-Otin LGA, where Adeleke polled 125 votes against Oyebamiji’s 85 votes.

Senator Francis Fadahunsi

Senator Francis Fadahunsi, the senator representing Osun East, got enmeshed in serious controversy as a vocal APC supporter who campaigned for Oyebamiji.

His “Kill Accord” declaration earned him a police invitation, legal action and widespread criticism in the final days before the election. Many political analysts feel this may reduce his chances of securing re-election in 2027.

Wole Oke

Hon. Oluwole Oke, a seasoned five-term member of the House of Representatives representing the Ijesa-North Federal Constituency, is another big loser in the contest.

He was appointed as the state Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council for Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) in the Osun State 2026 gubernatorial election.

Oke defected from the PDP, under whose platform he had served as a federal lawmaker for 24 years. His calculation to use the APC as a new political vehicle  seemed to have suffered a setback following the party’s defeat in the poll.

Rauf Aregbesola

Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of the state, former Minister of Interior and currently the leader of the ADC in the state, lost his polling unit to the APC after a brief disruption of the voting process at his Unit 1, Ifofin Ward 8, in Ilesa East LGA of the state.

His party’s outing in the election suggests that his political influence in the state may have suffered a significant setback.