There was jubilation on Saturday as the Accord Party governorship candidate and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, won his polling unit in the ongoing governorship election.
Adeleke polled 421 votes at Ward 02, Polling Unit 009, Abogunde Compound, Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State.
Supporters of the governor were seen celebrating after the result was announced at the polling unit.
Earlier, three major candidates in the Osun governorship election had expressed confidence in emerging victorious as the polls entered the sorting and collation stage, with each candidate and their supporters optimistic about securing the mandate of the electorate.
Governor Adeleke had earlier expressed confidence in emerging victorious after casting his vote at Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9, in Ede North Local Government Area.
Opposition candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, who also voted at his Ward 09, Unit 011, Ikire, in the Irewole Local Government Area, expressed confidence in victory while speaking with journalists after casting his vote.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, Najeem Salaam, raised concerns over the alleged non-recognition of his party agents in several areas across the state during Saturday’s election.
As at 5:24 PM on Saturday, a check by our correspondent on the IReV portal indicated that 1386 out of 3,763 unit results have been uploaded.
In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission had uploaded 37% of Osun State gubernatorial election results to its results viewing portal, popularly known as the IReV.
A check by Wuzup Nigeria indicated that the commission is keeping to its earlier promise to upload the election results to the IReV.
Recall that voters across Osun State today voted for the next occupant of the Bola Ige Government House for a four-year term.
A total of 15 political parties are on the ballot, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party.
Two candidates, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement, had announced their withdrawal from the contest.
While Adeyemi-Doro endorsed APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, Adewale declared support for Adeleke. Both APGA and APM, however, remain on the ballot.
Adeleke secured victory in his first polling unit, with the Accord Party winning Polling Unit 026, Ward 5, in Osogbo Local Government Area.
According to the result declared by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Accord Party polled 57 votes, while the All Progressives Congress scored 43 votes.
Results from other polling units across the state have continued to trickle in as collation progresses.
The election has, however, been marred by reports of intimidation, vote-buying and other forms of electoral violence in some areas, although voting has proceeded successfully in many parts of the state.
