Osun poll: Adeleke opens lead over Oyebamiji as results trickle in
Osun State Governor and Accord Party candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has retained his lead in the early results emerging from Saturday’s governorship election as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues the electronic upload of polling-unit results.
As of 8:18 p.m., data on INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed that 3,191 out of the 3,763 expected polling-unit result sheets had been uploaded, representing 84.80 per cent of the total.
The development means 572 polling-unit results were yet to be uploaded at the time of the latest update.
Results from the uploaded polling units indicate a tight race between Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, with the incumbent currently ahead in the available figures.
African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, was placed third in the results so far, while other candidates recorded significantly lower figures.
An earlier collation from 303 of the state’s 332 wards had put Adeleke on 177,572 votes, representing 50.5 per cent, against Oyebamiji’s 158,588 votes, or 45.1 per cent. Salaam had 5,917 votes at that point.
Those figures, however, remained provisional as more results continued to emerge through the IReV platform.
Among the local government areas, Osogbo had recorded 258 uploaded results out of 282 polling units, while Ife Central had 194 out of 215, and Ife East had 181 out of 200.
Ilesa East recorded 115 of 132 expected results, while Ifelodun had 126 of 145. Aiyedaade uploaded 121 of 150, Irepodun 120 of 133, Ila 117 of 124, and Ede North 116 of 139.
Boluwaduro had almost completed its uploads, with 73 of 74 results available, while Ifedayo had 60 of 63 and Isokan 73 of 95.
Ola-Oluwa had uploaded 41 of its 62 polling-unit results as of the latest update.
The steady release of results followed the completion of voting, sorting and counting at polling units across the state.
Reports from polling units indicated considerable voter participation, although some voters complained of delays during the accreditation process involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH), in its preliminary assessment, also reported strong voter turnout and described the election as largely peaceful and orderly.
Earlier, INEC had reported that 3,029 polling-unit results, representing 80.49 per cent of the expected total, had been uploaded before the figure climbed to 3,191.
The emerging results have heightened anticipation across Osun, with the contest increasingly narrowing into a battle between Adeleke and Oyebamiji.
Both candidates have remained optimistic about their chances. Adeleke, who is seeking re-election, cast his vote in Ede North and later expressed confidence in securing a victory, while Oyebamiji similarly stated that he was confident of winning after voting.
The outcome will depend on the completion of the collation and the official declaration by INEC.
