Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has retained a significant lead over his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, following the announcement of results from 25 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas.
The results, announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the state collation centre in Osogbo in the early hours of Sunday, put Adeleke at 431,760 votes, while Oyebamiji recorded 364,425 votes.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate, Najeem Salaam, is in third place with 10,574 votes.
The provisional figures give Adeleke a 67,335-vote advantage over Oyebamiji, with results from five local government areas still outstanding.
The contest has produced strong performances for both leading candidates across different parts of the state, with each candidate recording notable victories in areas considered strongholds.
Adeleke has built his advantage through substantial wins in several local government areas, including Osogbo, Ede North, Ede South, Iwo, Ife East and Ife North.
In Osogbo, the state capital, Adeleke polled 36,480 votes, while Oyebamiji secured 30,474 votes.
The governor recorded one of his widest margins in Ede North, where he obtained 35,427 votes, compared with Oyebamiji’s 10,283 votes.
Oyebamiji, however, posted strong performances in several local government areas, particularly Irewole, where he secured 29,972 votes against Adeleke’s 10,934 votes.
The APC candidate also emerged victorious in Boripe, Ilesha East, Obokun, Irepodun, Atakunmosa West, Ifedayo and Odo-Otin, among other areas.
The emerging figures suggest that although Oyebamiji has won a number of local government areas, Adeleke’s larger margins in several of his strongholds have given him a substantial lead in the provisional tally.
A comparison of the announced results shows that Adeleke has won 18 of the 25 LGAs, while Oyebamiji has secured seven.
The result from Irewole is particularly significant, given Oyebamiji’s strong showing there, where he polled 29,972 votes against Adeleke’s 10,934.
With five local government areas yet to be announced, attention remains focused on the final phase of the collation as the two leading candidates await the outstanding results.
Osun decides: Adeleke wins 18 LGAs, leads Oyebamiji by 67,335 votes