Osun Election: APC says they didn’t lose, Reject Adeleke’s Victory

By Usman HARUNA ✔

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

INEC announced Adeleke of the Accord Party as the winner with 511,067 votes. His closest challenger, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, polled 444,815 votes, while Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 17,180 votes. Adeleke secured victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won in 11.

In an interview on Arise News, the Director-General of the APC Osun Governorship Campaign, Oluwole Oke, stated that the party does not accept the outcome.

“We do not agree with the declaration of INEC. That’s our position for now. We believe he did not score the highest valid votes,” Oke said.

He disclosed that the party has commenced an audit of the election process. All APC agents have been directed to submit copies of Forms EC8A, EC8B and EC8C to the party secretariat for review and verification.

Oke added that the party will also examine issues that arose before and during the election against the Electoral Act and other relevant laws before taking a final position.

Earlier, the APC’s Director of Media and Information in Osun, Kola Olabisi, said the party leadership is studying the results from all 332 wards across the state. The party noted that an election remains a process that can extend to the tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and that it will consult its legal team on possible next steps under the Electoral Act 2026 (as amended).

The APC has urged its members and supporters to remain calm while the review continues.

Governor Adeleke has called for peace and unity in the state following his re-election and said he expected his opponent to offer congratulations as the “civilised thing to do."