OSOGBO, NIGERIA: Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after winning the August 15, 2026 governorship election and pledged ₦500 million (about US$370,000) for victims of electoral violence.
At a ceremony at the INEC headquarters in Osogbo, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Professor Kunle Ajani, presented the certificate to Adeleke, who thanked residents for renewing his mandate. Okay News reports that Ademola Adeleke pledged the ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to support verified victims and families affected by the violence recorded during the election.
Adeleke said the certificate belonged to the people of Osun State and dedicated his victory to those who supported him during the electoral process. “This certificate does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone. It belongs to the people of Osun State: our workers, market men and women, youths, traditional and religious leaders, and every citizen who participated in this democratic process.
“I am deeply humbled by the confidence you have renewed in me,” he said.
The governor also paid tribute to electoral violence victims, including Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass and Kolade Eluyera, and called for sober reflection over injuries, destruction of property and loss of lives. “But even in victory, we must be sober in reflection. Citizens were injured, properties and livelihoods were destroyed and, most painfully, precious lives were lost,” he said. He added: “Regardless of political affiliation, they were first our brothers, sisters and fellow citizens. To their families, your pain is our pain, and your loved ones will never be reduced to mere statistics.”
Adeleke said a Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, would identify verified victims and oversee relief distribution. “No eligible victim will be excluded because of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status. In grief, there is no political party. In our common humanity, we are one people,” Adeleke said.
At a separate reception by workers, Adeleke disclosed that the Adeleke family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide full scholarships up to university level for children and dependants of people who died in the electoral violence. He also urged residents to unite after the election, saying, “The election is over. The campaign is over. The contest is over. Now is the time to govern, unite, heal and build,” he said.
