Governor Adeleke Presents Certificate of Return to President Tinubu

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke visited President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday to present his certificate of return following his re-election on August 15. Adeleke, representing the Accord Party, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission with 511,067 votes, defeating All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who received 444,815 votes. A third candidate, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress, received 17,180 votes.

During the visit, Governor Adeleke thanked President Tinubu for his role in ensuring a free and fair election, stating that the president fought for democracy. President Tinubu, who had previously congratulated Adeleke via telephone, urged the governor to prioritize reconciliation and inclusive governance. The president advised Adeleke not to stigmatize or victimize political opponents, noting that winning an election is different from conquering opponents. He further encouraged the governor to focus on infrastructure, education, and healthcare for the welfare of Osun residents.

While the president and governor emphasized the democratic nature of the result, the APC has rejected the outcome. Oluwole Oke, the director general of the APC governorship campaign committee, stated that the party believes the Accord candidate did not score the highest number of valid votes. Governor Adeleke also announced plans to establish a 500 million naira endowment fund for victims of election related violence.