By Kazeem Ugbodaga/Isa Isawade
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has maintained a commanding lead over his closest challenger, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, following the announcement of results from 25 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Figures from the 25 LGAs announced at the state collation centre in Osogbo in the early hours of Sunday showed Adeleke polling 431,760 votes, against 364,425 votes recorded by Oyebamiji.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, was a distant third with 10,574 votes.
The figures give Adeleke a 67,335-vote lead over Oyebamiji with results from only five LGAs remaining to be announced.
The contest has, however, seen significant regional swings, with both leading candidates recording strong performances in their respective areas of influence.
Adeleke secured substantial victories in Osogbo, Ede North, Ede South, Iwo, Ife East, Ife North and other LGAs, helping him build his overall advantage.
In Osogbo, the state capital, Adeleke polled 36,480 votes, defeating Oyebamiji, who secured 30,474 votes.
His strongest margin in the results released was recorded in Ede North, where Adeleke scored 35,427 votes against Oyebamiji’s 10,283.
Oyebamiji, meanwhile, demonstrated considerable strength in several LGAs, particularly Irewole, where he recorded an impressive 29,972 votes against Adeleke’s 10,934.
The APC candidate also won Boripe, Ilesha East, Obokun, Irepodun, Atakunmosa West, Ifedayo and Odo-Otin, among other local government areas.
The results indicate that while Oyebamiji has dominated several LGAs, Adeleke has accumulated larger vote margins in some of his strongest areas, giving the incumbent a sizeable advantage in the provisional tally.
Of the 25 LGAs reflected in the results, Adeleke won 18, while Oyebamiji won seven, based on a comparison of the figures announced.
The result from Irewole is particularly notable following Oyebamiji’s overwhelming performance at his polling unit in Ikire, where the APC candidate defeated Adeleke 29,972 to 10,934.
