Inec formally declares Adeleke the winner of Osun election as he unseats APC's Governor Oyetola

NIGERIA'S Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has formally declared Senator Ademola Adeleke as the Osun State governor-elect after he emerged victorious in yesterday's gubernatorial election.

After a gruelling two-horse race, Senator Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) floored incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). University of Lagos vice chancellor Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the returning officer for the election, officially declared Senator Adeleke the winner with 403,371 votes.

Governor Oyetola got 375,027 votes, while Action Democratic Party (ADP) candidate Kehinde Atanda came in at a distant third with 10,104 votes, followed by Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party with 4,515 votes. Senator Adeleke won 17 local governments while Governor Oyetola won 13 local governments.

According to official Inec figures, the local governments won by APC include Boripe, Ilesa East, Ayedire, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Ayedaade, Iwo, Olaoluwa, Isokan, Atakumosa East, Ife South, Ife Central and Ife East. Senator Adeleke and the PDP won Ede North, Ede South, Ifelodun, Boluwaduro, Egbedore, Odo Otin, Osogbo, Ila, Atakumosa West, Olorunda, Ilesa West, Obokun, Oriade, Orolu, Ife North, Irepodun and Ejigbo local government areas.

Senator Adeleke, 62, riding on the back of a campaign aimed at developing the state and retrieving what he says is his stolen mandate, celebrated his win by visiting a church this morning.  Yesterday's election, which was by and large peaceful, featured 15 contestants but it ended up being about Senator Adeleke and Governor Oyetola as between them they accounted for 96.76% of the votes cast.

Votes for the other candidates are as follows Akinade Ogunbiyi, Accord Party - 4,514 votes; Awojide Segun, AAC - 2,148; Kehinde Atanda, ADP -10,104; Awoyemi Lukuman, APM - 1,222  and Adebayo Elisha, APP - 601 votes. Adeleke Adedapo of BP - 374 votes; Rasaq Saliu, NNPP - 393; Abede Samuel, NRM - 777; Ayowole Adedeji, PRP - 1,007; Omigbodun Akinrinola, SDP - 515; Ademola Adeseye, YPP - 1,303 and Adesuyi Olufemi, ZLP - 364 votes.