The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a certificate of return to Ademola Adeleke, governor-elect of Osun and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The certificate presentation to Adeleke by the INEC National Commissioner, Supervising Osun, Ogun and Oyo states, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, was preceded by the presentation to the deputy governor-elect, Prince Kola Adewusi.
The presentation came about 72 hours after Adeleke was declared the winner of the Saturday, July 16 poll, garnering 403, 371 votes to defeat Mr Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 375, 027 votes.
The PDP won in 17 local government areas, while APC won in 13.
The 17 local government areas won by PDP are; Boluwaduro, Osogbo, Ila, Atakumosa West, Ifelodun, Ilesa West, Odo-Otin, Obokun, Orolu, Olorunda, Ife North, Irepodun, Oriade, Ede South, Ejigbo, Ede North and Egbedore.
While the 13 local government areas won by APC are; Ilesa East, Ayedaade, Boripe, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Boripe, Ola-Oluwa, Iwo, Isokan, Irewole, Atakumosa East and Ife East.
In his acceptance speech after receiving the certificate at a brief ceremony held at Osun INEC head office in Osogbo, Adeleke dedicated his victory at the poll to the memory of his late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke and the people of Osun state.
Oyetola is mulling going to court to challenge the victory of the PDP candidate.
In 2018, the PDP candidate was leading in the polls, but the election was declared inconclusive by INEC on the grounds that the number of cancelled votes exceeded the difference in the votes between both parties.
Oyetola eventually became governor after he won the rerun. Though Adeleke challenged the outcome, the supreme court in July 2019 upheld Oyetola as the winner of the election.
The rift between Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, and Oyetola over who controls the party’s structure in the state is said to have given Adeleke a chance to win the election.
The minister was absent during the party’s campaign in the state and did not vote in the election.
