The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defeated the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the polling unit of former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in Saturday’s governorship election.
The result represents a major symbolic setback for Aregbesola, who served as governor of the state from 2010 to 2018 and is now the national secretary of the ADC.
Results uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal showed that APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji polled 256 votes to win Polling Unit 001, Cooperative Building Junction, Isare, Ward 08, Ilesa East Local Government Area.
Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party came second with 43 votes, while ADC candidate Najeem Salaam secured 13 votes.
The result is significant for the ADC because Aregbesola, a former APC leader, has been one of the party’s most prominent figures and a leading supporter of Salaam’s candidacy.
Aregbesola cast his ballot at the polling unit earlier on Saturday before the results were announced.
Reports from the polling unit showed a decisive margin in favour of the APC, with Oyebamiji securing nearly six times Adeleke’s votes and almost 20 times Salaam’s tally.
The former governor defected from the APC to the ADC in 2025 and subsequently emerged as the opposition party’s national secretary. His political influence in Osun had made his ability to deliver his polling unit and broader support base a key test for the ADC in the election.
Aregbesola governed Osun for two terms before becoming Minister of Interior under the APC administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He was also among the political figures involved in the formation of the APC in 2013.
His departure from the APC and subsequent backing of the ADC marked a significant shift in Osun politics, particularly as the ADC sought to challenge the APC and Accord Party in the 2026 governorship election.
The contest features Adeleke, who is seeking another term, Oyebamiji of the APC and Salaam of the ADC as the leading contenders.
The outcome at Aregbesola’s polling unit, however, was only one of several results being collated across the state. INEC continued the collation of results from the 30 local government areas after voting ended on Saturday.
As of Sunday morning, early election results showed Adeleke maintaining a strong lead over his challengers, although the final result was still being collated by INEC.
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