Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the August 15, 2026 gubernatorial election has not been challenged in court after the 21-day constitutional period for filing petitions expired without any petition being filed.
The deadline to challenge the election result expired on Saturday and none of the 14 political parties defeated in the elections approached the Osun State Governorate Electoral Petitions Tribunal to challenge the result.
Adeleke, who contested the election based on the Accord platform, was declared the winner by the State Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joshua Ogunwole.
He polled 511,067 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who recorded 444,815 votes.
A total of 15 political parties participated in the gubernatorial election.
The court office was opened at the State High Court premises at Oke Fia, Osogbo, shortly after INEC announced the election results to receive petitions arising out of the election.
However, after the constitutional period of 21 days has passed, the court has not received any petition.
The development comes days after Oyebamiji publicly congratulated Adeleke on his victory and said the election result would not mark the end of APC activities in the state.
Oyebamiji, while addressing APC leaders, members and supporters in Osogbo last Saturday, urged the party to focus its attention on preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He called on members to strengthen the party’s structures, unite in its various tendencies and begin grassroots mobilization before the next electoral cycle.
The APC gubernatorial candidate also urged members of the party to mobilize support for the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates seeking elective positions in Osun State in 2027.
While congratulating Adeleke on the victory declared by INEC, Oyebamiji encouraged APC members not to lose confidence in the party or abandon democratic principles due to the election result.
He said the party’s priority should now be to consolidate its existing structures, expand its popular reach and improve unity among its members.
Oyebamiji also reflected on the period after he emerged as the APC governorship candidate in December 2025, saying that different factions within the party had put aside their differences to pursue a common goal.
He said the party’s campaign reached various communities and engaged groups, including civil servants, retirees, artisans, students, youth, businessmen, women, professionals, sports groups, people with disabilities and religious organizations.
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The APC candidate commended members and supporters for their loyalty, resilience and commitment during the campaign and elections, saying their efforts had contributed to strengthening the party despite their defeat.
He further appealed to Adeleke, as the state’s chief security officer, to ensure the safety of residents and the protection of their properties, regardless of their political affiliation.
Oyebamiji also condemned the alleged harassment, intimidation and attacks on APC members and supporters and their companies, describing such actions as threats to peace, development and investment in Osun State.
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