Osun Poll: Adeleke’s Victory Unchallenged as 21-Day Petition Window Closes

The victory of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15 governorship election has remained unchallenged after the constitutional window for filing petitions closed without any defeated candidate approaching the election petition tribunal.

The 21-day period for challenging the poll ended on Saturday, September 5, with no petition filed against the result. Fourteen candidates were defeated in the election, which was contested by 15 parties.

Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party, was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Returning Officer, Professor Joshua Ogunwole. He secured 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 444,815 votes.

Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress came third with 17,180 votes.

The election petition tribunal opened its registry at the Osun State High Court in Oke Fia, Osogbo, following the declaration of the results.

The absence of a petition means Adeleke’s victory will not face an immediate legal contest before the tribunal. It also removes uncertainty that often follows closely contested elections.

Reacting to the development, Osun State Chairman of the Accord Party, Victor Akande, praised the defeated candidates for what he described as political maturity. He said accepting an election result without proceeding to court could strengthen democratic practice.

Akande argued that elections should ideally end at the polling stage when contestants believe the process has been credible, rather than becoming prolonged legal battles.

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Olugbenga Ajala, also said his party considered the election and processes leading to it sufficiently fair. He explained that his party would have approached the tribunal if it believed the election had not been credible.

The decision by defeated candidates not to file petitions marks an unusual development in Nigerian electoral politics, where governorship results frequently generate prolonged litigation.

For Adeleke, closure of the petition window provides greater certainty as he prepares to continue his second term in office.

The governor won 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11, according to the final results announced by INEC.