Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has received his Certificate of Return following his victory in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

He received the certificate at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office on Wednesday, saying that it “belongs to the people of Osun State”.

An excited Adeleke danced amid cheers and jubilation from Accord Party members and supporters.

Speaking at the ceremony, Adeleke said he had forgiven all those who might have offended him during the state election and declared that he bore no grudge against political adversaries.

“God has fought my battles for me, and so I hold unto God throughout the duration of the political war and now that I have been re-elected,” he said.

“Today is not merely a day for the presentation of a 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 demonstrates that our democracy cannot be intimidated, purchased or suppressed. I am deeply humbled by your courage and by the confidence you have renewed in me.

INEC declared Adeleke as the winner of the election on Sunday.

It said that Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who got 444,815 votes.

It also said that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, polled 17,180 votes.

The governor won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas to secure a second term of four years, while Oyebamiji won in 11.

Adeleke described the result as a triumph for democracy and pledged to use his second term to transform Osun from a civil-service-dependent state into an industrial hub.

He received congratulatory messages from President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), among others.