Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his victory in the state’s governorship election of August 15.
The certificate was presented to Adeleke by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, at about 1:30pm on Wednesday at the commission’s headquarters in Osogbo, shortly after Deputy Governor Prince Kola Adewusi received his own certificate.
Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated his closest challenger, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by 66,252 votes.
The governor polled 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third with 17,180 votes.
Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in the remaining 11.
Declaring the result, the Returning Officer, Prof. Ogunwole, said Adeleke had met the legal requirements to emerge as the winner of the election, triggering celebrations across the state.
Babalola said the presentation of the certificates was in accordance with the law governing the commission and confirmed the electoral mandate given to Adeleke and Adewusi by voters in the state.
She commended stakeholders for their contributions to the successful conduct of the election, particularly security agencies, non-governmental organisations, the media, and traditional leaders.
The Osun REC also praised voters for their participation, putting voter turnout at 43.2 percent, and congratulated Adeleke while urging him to be magnanimous in victory.
The INEC National Supervising Commissioner for Osun State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, described the occasion as significant for democracy and the people of the state.
Ajayi congratulated Adeleke and commended Osun voters for participating in the election despite tensions and incidents of violence recorded during the build-up to the poll.
He said the conduct of the election demonstrated the resilience and determination of the people of Osun, while stressing that INEC entered the state to uphold democratic principles rather than support any particular candidate.
The national commissioner also commended the security agencies for their sacrifices during the electoral process and praised party agents for their vigilance, saying their role contributed to accountability and transparency during the exercise.
Addressing the gathering at INEC headquarters in Osun State, Adeleke stated, “Today is the day the Lord has made. I have forgiven everyone that offended me.”
While attributing his re-election and receipt of his Certificate of Return to the will of God, the governor stated, “What else do I want? The good Lord has fought my battle, and I have overcome. Osun State has overcome. I have brought light to Osun State, and I drove darkness out of Osun State.
“Osun State will never see darkness again; we will keep moving forward, and nobody will turn us around again. I want to seize this opportunity to call all my fellow contestants to come over; let us join hands and let’s move Osun State forward. This state is bigger than anybody,” he remarked.
Adeleke, however, restated that he had forgiven all his political detractors, just as he extended an olive branch to candidates of other political parties, who contested against him, to collaborate with his administration in moving the state forward.
According to him, “Osun State will never see darkness again; we will keep moving forward, and nobody will turn us around again. I want to seize this opportunity to call all my fellow contestants to come over, let us join hands, and let’s move Osun State forward. This state is bigger than anybody.”
“Whatever has happened in the past, let bygone be bygone because I have a fear of God. All those that offended me, I have forgiven them.”
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
