Adeleke, Oyebamiji, Salaam and other contenders await INEC declaration as collation begins across the state
by Anietie Udobit, Osogbo
Grow your business with us
OSOGBO — Voting has ended across Osun State in a closely watched governorship election that has attracted national attention as a major test of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As polling units closed on Saturday, August 15, attention shifted from voting to the painstaking process of result collation, with early figures and unofficial trends beginning to circulate but no winner yet officially declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The election pits incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke against a field of challengers, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji, as well as candidates from other political parties.
The contest has been particularly significant because Osun has historically been one of Nigeria’s most politically competitive states, with elections often producing close contests, intense mobilisation and legal challenges.
A high-stakes election beyond Osun
For many political observers, Osun is more than a state-level contest.
The election is being viewed as an important political indicator ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly because of the intense competition between the governing APC and opposition forces.
The outcome could influence calculations within political parties, strengthen or weaken emerging alliances and provide clues about voter sentiment in the South-West.
That broader significance has placed enormous pressure on INEC and security agencies to ensure that the final outcome reflects the votes cast.
BVAS challenges surface
One of the major issues reported during voting was difficulty with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Election observers and media reports recorded instances where facial authentication and other BVAS processes experienced delays or malfunctions.
The EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub reported BVAS glitches alongside incidents of vote buying, thuggery and other electoral offences.
The problems did not necessarily stop voting everywhere, but they contributed to delays and frustration in some polling units.
The experience has once again raised a fundamental question about Nigeria’s increasingly technology-driven elections: Can electronic accreditation and result-transmission systems deliver the reliability voters expect when the political stakes are highest?
That question will be particularly important in 2027, when the number of voters and polling locations will be considerably larger.
Vote-buying allegations persist
Another recurring concern was vote buying.
Election observers reported instances in which voters appeared to display ballot papers to party agents, behaviour often associated with attempts to verify that voters complied with arrangements made before voting.
The Network of Democracy Reporters also reported vote-buying concerns, BVAS problems and sporadic incidents during the exercise.
The persistence of vote buying remains one of the most difficult challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy.
It is particularly troubling because the practice turns elections from a contest of ideas and policies into a transaction in which poverty and economic hardship can be exploited.
For many voters struggling with the rising cost of food, transport and household necessities, even relatively small payments can become powerful incentives.
Security under scrutiny
Security arrangements were also closely watched.
Osun has a history of politically charged violence, making the deployment of security personnel particularly sensitive.
Election observers reported dozens of security incidents and electoral offences by midday, although voting in many locations remained largely peaceful.
Civil society groups have urged candidates and their supporters to remain calm and allow the official process to run its course.
The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub specifically urged contestants to await INEC’s official announcement and channel complaints through established legal mechanisms.
The Adeleke factor
Governor Ademola Adeleke entered the election seeking another term after a first tenure that has generated both strong support and criticism.
His political strength is closely associated with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) political structure in the state and the Adeleke family’s considerable grassroots influence.
But his administration has also faced intense political confrontation with the federal establishment, particularly over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and issues surrounding the state’s finances.
That political tension has added another layer to an already competitive election.
The APC’s challenge
For the APC, the election represents an opportunity to regain control of Osun after losing the governorship in 2022.
The party’s campaign has focused heavily on governance, development and the need for political change.
Its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, has therefore had to convert the party’s organisational strength into actual votes in a state where opposition politics remains deeply entrenched.
What happens next?
The most important phase is now beginning.
Results from polling units must proceed through the established collation process before INEC can make a declaration.
Unofficial figures circulating on social media should therefore be treated cautiously.
The credibility of the election will ultimately depend not only on who wins, but on whether losing candidates and their supporters believe the process was sufficiently transparent to command legitimacy.
For Nigeria, Osun offers an early warning and learning opportunity before 2027.
If BVAS problems, vote buying, security concerns and allegations of electoral malpractice persist, the lessons will be difficult to ignore.
If the process produces a credible result accepted by the major contestants, however, it could strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral institutions.
Unity Times will continue to follow the collation and official declaration as they unfold.
About The Author