Ooni Congratulates Adeleke on Osun Re-Election, Urges Unity and Inclusive Governance
Ile-Ife / Osogbo – August 17, 2026 — The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, describing the outcome of the August 15, 2026 governorship election as a fresh mandate and a renewed chance to advance the development of the state.
In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Public Affairs of the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the monarch—who also serves as Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria—called for a new chapter of unity, reconciliation, and purposeful governance.
“The Election Is Over, the Real Work Begins”
The Ooni stressed that while elections naturally involve competition and divergent interests, the conclusion of the process demands that all stakeholders set political differences aside in the collective interest of the people.
“Your victory comes with a renewed responsibility to serve the entire people of Osun State, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnic background, religious belief, or geographical location.
The election is over, but the work of building a stronger, more prosperous, and peaceful Osun has only just begun,” the Ooni said.
He particularly urged Governor Adeleke to extend an olive branch to political opponents and work towards healing any divisions that may have arisen during the campaign period.
The traditional ruler emphasized that the second term should prioritize governance that transcends partisan considerations and consolidates achievements for lasting impact.
Development Priorities Highlighted
The Ooni called for greater attention to youth empowerment, employment creation, education, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, tourism and the creative economy—sectors he described as critical to sustainable development.
He specifically commended ongoing projects, including the recently completed Lagere Flyover in Ile-Ife and the dualization of the road linking Mayfair to Enuwa, while urging the administration to sustain the momentum and spread development more evenly across communities.
“Osun is richly endowed with human and cultural resources. Our state must now move from political competition to economic competition, from electioneering to development, and from division to collaboration,” the Ooni added.
He assured the governor of the continued support of the traditional institution for initiatives promoting peace, cultural preservation, youth development, tourism, and economic growth.
Election Context and Broader Reactions
Governor Adeleke of the Accord Party secured 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji (popularly known as AMBO), who polled 444,815 votes — a margin of 66,252 votes.
Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji carried 11. The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished a distant third with 17,180 votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, declared the results in the early hours of Sunday, August 16, after collation from all local government areas. Approximately 1,010,684 voters were accredited out of 2,339,544 registered.
President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi and several other political and religious leaders have also congratulated Adeleke, with many echoing the call for unity and inclusive governance.
The Ooni further commended INEC, security agencies, election officials, observers, the media and other stakeholders for their roles in the conduct of the poll.
He prayed for wisdom, strength and divine guidance for the governor as he begins his second term, reminding leaders that the ultimate responsibility is to leave society better than they found it.
As Osun transitions from campaign mode to governance, the monarch’s message underscores a widely shared expectation: that the hard-won mandate must now translate into tangible progress and genuine reconciliation for the benefit of all residents.
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