Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has opened a commanding lead over his All Progressives Congress, APC, rival, Bola Oyebamiji, following the announcement of results from 20 local government areas in the Osun State governorship election.
The results, announced at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, collation centre in Osogbo, showed Adeleke with 365,922 votes, while Oyebamiji polled 287,695 votes.
The figures gave the incumbent governor an advantage of 78,227 votes, with results from 10 of the state’s 30 local government areas yet to be announced.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate, Najeem Salaam, occupies third position with 9,124 votes across the 20 LGAs.
Adeleke’s lead has been boosted by strong performances in several areas, particularly Ede North, Ede South and Osogbo.
In Ede North, Adeleke secured 35,427 votes, comfortably ahead of Oyebamiji’s 10,283, representing a margin of 25,144 votes.
The governor also recorded a decisive victory in Ede South, where he polled 26,188 votes against Oyebamiji’s 6,219.
In Osogbo, Adeleke secured 36,480 votes, while the APC candidate obtained 30,474 votes.
Adeleke further prevailed in Iwo, where he received 27,085 votes compared with Oyebamiji’s 19,660, and in Ife East, where he polled 27,201 votes against the APC candidate’s 18,600.
The incumbent also secured victories in several other local government areas, including Ife North, Boluwaduro, Ilesha West, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Orolu, Oriade, Odo Otin and Ifelodun.
Oyebamiji, however, has demonstrated the APC’s strength in a number of areas, securing victories in several local government areas.
The APC candidate won Ilesha East with 16,208 votes, compared with Adeleke’s 12,280. He also defeated the governor in Boripe, recording 19,963 votes against Adeleke’s 12,448.
Oyebamiji further prevailed in Irepodun, where he polled 15,713 votes to Adeleke’s 14,504, and Obokun, where he secured 16,120 votes against the governor’s 12,023.
He also won Atakumosa West, polling 10,037 votes against Adeleke’s 7,479.
Despite the APC candidate’s victories in several LGAs, the results announced so far leave Adeleke with a substantial lead of more than 78,000 votes.
With results from 20 of the 30 local government areas already announced, attention now shifts to the remaining 10 LGAs, whose figures could still influence the final outcome of the closely watched governorship contest.
Osun decides: Adeleke extends lead over Oyebamiji to 78,227 votes