By Isa Isawade
The sun rose over Osogbo on the morning of August 15, 2026, carrying the weight of a journey marked by tension and high stakes. Weeks before, the state had been on edge. A chilling attack on INEC officials in Odo-Otin LGA, where armed hoodlums had made off with PVCs, served as a grim reminder of the forces determined to disrupt democracy. Yet, as voters formed patient queues at polling units from Ile-Ife to Ilesa, a quiet defiance filled the air, a collective resolve to let their votes count.
By evening, the collation center buzzed with the intensity of a state holding its breath. Agents from every party watched the whiteboard with hawk-like focus as Local Government results streamed in. The numbers told a story of a deeply contested race, but as the final tally was announced, a roar of jubilation erupted.
Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party had triumphed, securing 511,067 votes to defeat his closest rival from the APC, who polled 444,815 votes. It was a margin that reflected not just a political victory, but a testament to the endurance of the electoral process itself.
In the early hours, INEC officially declared Adeleke the winner, cementing a successful conclusion to a gubernatorial election that many feared would spiral into chaos.
The announcement drew swift and significant praises. From President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and many other notable figures across the country, congratulatory messages have been pouring in.
According to Makinde, despite the “long and arduous journey,” the will of the people had ultimately prevailed.
As the new dawn broke over Osun, it brought with it a collective sigh of relief. The election was not just a success for the winner, but for the people who defied intimidation and for a democracy that, even in its toughest moments, proved resilient.
