Osun APC Reviews Election Result, Consults Lawyers Over Adeleke’s Victory

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State says it is reviewing the results of the 2026 governorship election across the state’s 332 wards as it consults its legal team on possible action against the outcome.

The party said it would consider all constitutional avenues available to challenge the result after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Ademola Adeleke the winner of Saturday’s election.

APC spokesperson in the state, Kola Olabisi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the party was awaiting the advice of its lawyers before deciding its next course of action.

Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, secured 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

The result was announced by the State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, following the conclusion of the collation exercise in Osogbo, the state capital.

Olabisi maintained that the declaration by INEC did not automatically bring the electoral process to an end, noting that aggrieved parties had the right to seek redress through the courts.

He said the APC was consulting its legal team and would act based on professional advice.

According to him, the party could approach the election petition tribunal and, if necessary, pursue the matter through the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

“An election cannot be said to have been concluded without having explored all these constitutionally allowed legal opportunities to correct anomalies observed in the process of the election as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2026 as amended,” Olabisi said.

He described the development as part of the democratic process, insisting that the APC would continue to pursue its concerns within the framework of the law.

The party spokesperson also appealed to APC members and supporters to remain calm and avoid any action that could escalate tension in the state.

He urged them to continue with their normal activities and refrain from responding to what he described as provocative actions by members of the ruling party.

“The new development is a beauty of democracy with reference to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declared governorship election results in the state, which would not propel us to deviate from embracing the culture of the rule of law,” he said.

Olabisi commended APC members and supporters for their commitment throughout the election, saying their efforts had contributed to the party’s performance in the poll.

He, however, appealed to the Nigeria Police Force to protect APC members and supporters, alleging that some of them were being subjected to unnecessary harassment by members of the ruling party.

“While we are appealing to the Nigeria Police Force to come to the aid and rescue of our members and supporters who are being needlessly molested by the ruling party, we are assuring them that we won’t have any cause or reason to abandon them,” he said.

The APC spokesperson said the current political situation in the state should be viewed as temporary, expressing confidence that justice would ultimately prevail through the appropriate legal process.

Adeleke’s victory gives him a second term in office after he defeated Oyebamiji and other challengers in the keenly contested poll.

The election has already generated differing reactions from political parties, with the APC’s decision to review the results potentially setting the stage for an electoral legal battle in the state.