Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday emerged as the governorship candidate of the Accord Party after securing an overwhelming majority of votes in a primary held in Osogbo and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Adeleke, who ran unopposed, received 145 votes, while five were declared invalid. Announcing the results, the Secretary of the Electoral Committee, Abudlazeez Salahudeen—representing the Chairperson, Maryam Saleh—declared him the duly elected candidate for the 2026 governorship contest.
In his acceptance speech, the governor described his emergence as the beginning of a renewed push to consolidate what he termed the “golden era” of governance in Osun. He maintained that his administration’s achievements and public goodwill would secure victory for the Accord Party in 2026.
“We are launching the battle for continuity of progress and good governance,” Adeleke said. “My candidacy ensures the light of development will continue to shine across our state. We will never go back to the dark days.”
Adeleke also unveiled an expanded five-point agenda for the 2026 race, focusing on integrated welfare for citizens and workers, infrastructure consolidation, agro-industrial expansion, innovations in health and education, and improvements to the business environment to spur job creation.
He challenged potential challengers to campaign on their records, insisting that his government had outperformed previous administrations despite obstacles.
“In their days, they failed the people and even failed themselves,” he said. “Today, their own party members are against them, and the people have rejected them.”
The governor cited key achievements, including Osun’s rise from 33rd to 7th position in national examination ratings, a 40 per cent reduction in the state’s infrastructure deficit, repayment of inherited debts, and the state’s top ranking in access to primary healthcare in the South-West.
“Our governance has proven that leadership can truly deliver,” he said. “We have substantially met the five-point agenda presented in 2022, and we are ready to introduce new ideas to move Osun forward.”
Presenting Adeleke with the certificate of return, Accord National Chairman, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, said the exercise reinforced the party’s commitment to due process and internal democracy. He described the governor’s emergence as “divine” and expressed confidence in his victory at the 2026 polls.
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