KEY POINTS
- Ademola Adeleke presented his Certificate of Return to President Bola Tinubu after winning the August 15 Osun governorship election.
- Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes, winning by 66,252 votes.
- The meeting comes amid growing political realignments and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the governor formally presented his Certificate of Return following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke arrived at the forecourt of the State House at about 5:25pm for the meeting, which has attracted political attention amid growing preparations and realignments ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The meeting came days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke the winner of the keenly contested Osun governorship poll.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
The result gave Adeleke a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
The governor won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won in 11 local government areas.
The election was closely watched because of its political significance in the state and the wider implications of the outcome for the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tinubu congratulates Adeleke
Following the announcement of the results, President Tinubu personally congratulated Adeleke on his victory.
The President described the election outcome as a “fitting assurance” that democracy would continue to thrive in Nigeria.
Tinubu also urged the re-elected governor to use his renewed mandate to unite the people of Osun State, regardless of how they voted during the election.
The President’s message placed emphasis on political reconciliation and inclusive governance as Adeleke prepares to begin another term in office.
Several senior officials and political associates from Osun State were also seen at the Presidential Villa in connection with Adeleke’s visit.
Among them were the Director-General of the Adeleke Campaign Council, Senator Lere Oyewumi; a member of the campaign council, Sunday Bisi; the Osun State Governor’s Chief of Staff, Akinleye Kazeem; and Bamidele Salam, a member of the House of Representatives representing the Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency.
Their presence underlined the political significance of the governor’s visit to the nation’s seat of power.