2026 Guber: Gov Adeleke Receives Certificate Of Return In Osogbo, Announces Scholarships For Children Of Victims Of Electoral Violence…People Refused To Surrender Their Wills-INEC National Commissioner
Winner of the gubernatorial election held in Osun State on Saturday, August 15, 2026, Governor Ademola Adeleke received his Certificate of Return at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osogbo on Wednesday.
The presentation ceremony that was jointly presided over by INEC National Commissioner, who supervises Ogun, Osun and Ondo states and also heads the electoral body’s Outreach and Partnership Committee, Professor Kunle Ajayi and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola was attended by top government functionaries and party bigwigs including Senator Lere Oyewumi, Rep Bamidele Salam, Speaker Adewale Egbedun, Hon Kolapo Alimi, Hon Abiodun Ojo, Chief Sunday Bisi, Hon Prince Ayodeji Olamilekan aka Sango of Africa, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Mr Olusola Ajala, Mr Jamiu Olawumi and Mr Femi Adefila.
The event was also attended by Mr David Adeleke, a music star, who is popularly called Davido, the governor’s sister, Chief (Mrs.) Dupe Adeleke-Sanni, and the governor’s sons; Adebayo Adeleke and Shina.
Giving his speech after receiving the Certificate of Return, Governor Ademola Adeleke said the 2026 guber election has changed the political landscape of the state adding that ‘Osun State people have spoken’.
He also declared that he has forgiven everyone who had offended him because God has fought his battle.
The governor also announced scholarships for children of election-related casualties while noting that this will be sponsored by the Adeleke family and not the state government.
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‘Today’s event has changed the landscape of Osun State. Osun State has spoken and Iam using this opportunity to thank INEC and the security agencies, I also thank the Commissioner of Police, Election.
Now, as the governor-elect and the sitting governor, I have told you all before that I am the governor of all. Whatever that has happened in the past is bygone because all the people that offended me I have forgiven them. The good God has fought my battle and Osun State has overcome, I have brought light to Osun State and it has driven darkness out of the state and we will never see darkness again, we will keep moving forward.
I am using this opportunity to tell my former co-contestants to please come over, let’s join hands together and move Osun State forward. Osun State is bigger than all of us and to those who were election-related casualties, may their souls rest in peace. I am announcing scholarships for their children, it is not government money, God has blessed the Adeleke family, they will attend Adeleke High School and the Adeleke University for free just to compensate them’ he said.
Governor Adeleke specially commended President Bola Tinuubu for ‘making democracy stay in the country’ while wishing him all the best in the 2027 presidential election.
While some have submitted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has helped to strengthen the nation’s democracy and some others have complained about technical glitches and logistical delays, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola noted that despite isolated incidents of violence, ‘the timely deployment of personnel, materials, effective performance of BVAS and the prompt uploading of results to the INEC portal collectively strengthened the credibility and the transparency of the process’.
She also added that ‘the 2026 guber election stands as a testament to effective electoral administration, stakeholder cooperation and enduring commitment of the people of Osun State’.
Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola also said the presentation of the certificate of return to the winner of the guber election shows that democracy has come to stay I the country.
Elections, she added, are not an end to themselves but rather means through which leadership is entrusted into responsibility of advancing the welfare, aspirations and collective interest of the people while urging Governor Ademola Adeleke to continue to discharge his duties with humility and spirit of service.
‘I will like to reaffirm INEC’s commitment to the continued improvement of our electoral processes, we remain confident that through sustained stakeholder engagement, constructive partnership and collective commitment to democratic values we can further strengthen democratic public choices, deepen electoral integrity and consolidate the gains of democracy’ she submitted.
Giving his speech, Professor Kunle Ajayi emphasized the need for political parties to have well-informed agents who will keep a watchful eye on the electoral process noting that having people who are knowledgeable about electoral laws had helped in ensuring a free and fair gubernatorial election on Saturday.
He urged leaders of political parties to invest more in training party agents on electoral laws, technology, dispute resolution mechanisms and others as this will according to him help to promote electoral transparency.
Professor Kunle Ajayi also said Osun State people refused to surrender their wills which was according to him the real victory for democracy.
In the meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke also attended the rally held by organized labour in Osogbo on Wednesday during which he announced the establishment of ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund.
‘Today is not merely a day for the presentation of Certificate of Return. It is a day of gratitude, reflection and, above all, appreciation for the people of Osun State who stood firm for democracy.
This certificate does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone. It belongs to the people of Osun State, the market men and women, workers, youths, traditional and religious leaders, and every citizen who demonstrated that our democracy cannot be intimidated, purchased or suppressed. I am deeply humbled by your courage and by the confidence you have reposed and renewed in me.
As we celebrate, we must remember those who paid a painful price during the electoral process. Citizens were injured, properties were destroyed, livelihoods disrupted and, most painfully, lives were lost.
We remember Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass, Kolade Eluyera, and the many other victims whose lives were cut short or permanently affected by electoral violence. To their families, I say: your pain has not been forgotten, and your loved ones will never be reduced to statistics
In addition, the Osun State Government will establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to provide relief and support to verified victims and families affected by the violence.
A Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, will oversee the transparent identification and assessment of victims and the equitable distribution of relief.
This is not a political fund. It is a humanitarian intervention. No eligible victim will be discriminated against on the basis of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status’ the governor told the thousands of public workers at the State Secretariat’ he said.
Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State chapter, Dr Christopher Arapasopo commended the labour movement for the role they played in Governor Adeleke’s re-election and announced that in upcoming legislative elections, Osun workers will still vote for Accord Party candidates.
‘We defied attacks and intimidation to support the governor’s re-election, we will never bow to those who want to enslave us. We will still vote Accord Party in upcoming legislative elections’ he said.
Governor Adeleke later visited the palaces of Ataoja of Osogbo and the Timi of Ede to present his certificate of return for royal blessings.
He was also at the residence of former Senator Oluwole Alabi in Osogbo-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
