Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election has gone unchallenged, with the 21-day period for filing election petitions expiring on Saturday, September 5.
Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform, was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission with 511,067 votes.
His closest rival, All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, polled 444,815 votes, giving Adeleke a 66,252-vote margin. Fifteen parties contested the election.
The election petition tribunal had opened its registry at the Osun State High Court premises in Oke-Fia, Osogbo, but no petition was lodged before the deadline.
The development contrasts with the aftermath of the 2022 governorship election, when Adeleke’s victory over then-incumbent Gboyega Oyetola triggered a prolonged legal battle.
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The tribunal annulled Adeleke’s election in January 2023 and declared Oyetola the winner. The Court of Appeal reversed the decision in March, while the Supreme Court on May 9, 2023, affirmed Adeleke’s victory.
In the latest contest, none of the defeated candidates has approached the tribunal within the prescribed period.
Osun Accord Chairman, Victor Akande, described the decision as political maturity, saying elections need not routinely end in court.
Social Democratic Party candidate Olugbenga Ajala also said he accepted the result, having considered the process sufficiently fair.
The Osun APC could not be reached for comment as of Sunday. Calls to its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, were unanswered, while a WhatsApp message had yet to receive a response.
Adeleke’s victory therefore stands without a tribunal challenge.