By Attah Ede
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday, presented the Certificate of Return to Osun State Governor, Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, following his victory in the state’s governorship election held last Saturday.
The certificate was presented to Adeleke by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, at the commission’s headquarters in Osogbo, shortly after Deputy Governor Prince Kola Adewusi received his own certificate.
Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, defeated his closest challenger, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by 66,252 votes.
The governor polled 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished third with 17,180 votes.
Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in the remaining 11.
Declaring the result, the Returning Officer, Prof Ogunwole, said Adeleke had met the legal requirements to emerge as the winner of the election, triggering celebrations across the state.
Babalola said the presentation of the certificates was in accordance with the law governing the commission and confirmed the electoral mandate given to Adeleke and Adewusi by voters in the state.
She commended stakeholders for their contributions to the successful conduct of the election, particularly security agencies, non-governmental organisations, the media and traditional leaders.
The Osun REC also praised voters for their participation, putting voter turnout at 43.2 per cent, and congratulated Adeleke while urging him to be magnanimous in victory.
The INEC National Supervising Commissioner for Osun State, Prof Kunle Ajayi, described the occasion as significant for democracy and the people of the state.
Ajayi congratulated Adeleke and commended Osun voters for participating in the election despite tensions and incidents of violence recorded during the build-up to the poll.
He said the conduct of the election demonstrated the resilience and determination of the people of Osun, while stressing that INEC entered the state to uphold democratic principles rather than support any particular candidate.
He equally appreciated the security agencies for their sacrifices during the electoral process and praised party agents for their vigilance, saying their role contributed to accountability and transparency during the exercise.
