The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the August 15 Osun State election, Bola Oyebamiji, has endorsed his party’s decision to review the outcome of the poll, while urging his supporters to remain calm and peaceful in the aftermath of the fiercely contested election.
Oyebamiji, who finished second behind incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, broke his silence on Tuesday as the APC began examining the result and the conduct of the election.
According to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform, secured 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji of the APC polled 444,815 votes. Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came a distant third with 17,180 votes.
The results gave Adeleke a margin of 66,252 votes over his closest challenger and placed the incumbent on course for another four-year term, subject to the conclusion of the electoral and legal processes.
Oyebamiji said he accepted the declared outcome while fully supporting the APC’s decision to scrutinise the election. He thanked party members, campaign volunteers and voters who backed his candidacy, stressing that the political movement built during the campaign would not end with the announcement of the results.
The APC candidate also appealed for restraint among his supporters, particularly amid reports of heightened political tensions in parts of the state following the election.
He expressed concern over what he described as an escalation in attacks against APC members and supporters, urging the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to respond swiftly and ensure that residents can go about their activities without fear.
The development adds another layer to an already closely watched election in Osun, where the contest between Adeleke and Oyebamiji generated significant political mobilisation across the state’s 30 local government areas.
The election featured candidates from 15 political parties, with the electoral commission reporting 1,010,684 accredited voters. Of the 1,005,800 votes cast, 985,079 were declared valid.
Despite the defeat, Oyebamiji maintained that the issues his campaign championed remain relevant to the future of Osun State. He called on his supporters to stay politically engaged and continue advocating for what he described as effective, inclusive and accelerated development across the state.
The APC’s decision to review the result now places greater attention on the party’s next steps and whether the review will lead to a formal challenge of the declared outcome.
For Adeleke, the victory represents a significant political achievement after he secured the governorship in 2022 under the Peoples Democratic Party before moving to the Accord Party for his re-election bid.
For Oyebamiji and the APC, the immediate priority appears to be maintaining party cohesion, protecting their supporters and determining whether the election results provide sufficient grounds for further legal or electoral action.
As Osun moves beyond the polls, the focus is now shifting from campaign rallies to the post-election process, with political stakeholders under pressure to preserve peace while any legitimate grievances are pursued through the appropriate democratic and legal channels.
