BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
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Governor Ademola Adeleke has been declared the winner of the Osun State governorship election, securing victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.
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The election, conducted across the state on Saturday, August 15, saw Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, defeat his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
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The State Returning Officer for the election and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, announced the final results at about 7:24 a.m. on Sunday.
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According to the declared figures, Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji garnered 444,815 votes.
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Ogunwole subsequently declared Adeleke duly elected and returned him to office for another term.
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The governor secured victories in Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo, Iwo, Egbedore, Ife North, Ife East, Ife Central, Oriade, Ifelodun, Orolu, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Odo Otin, Boluwaduro, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Osogbo and Ayedire.
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Oyebamiji, however, won in Irewole, Isokan, Olorunda, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ilesa East, Boripe, Irepodun and Obokun.
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Declaring the final figures, Ogunwole announced that a total of 1,010,684 voters were accredited, while 1,005,800 votes were recorded as total votes cast.
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He said the election produced 985,079 valid votes and 20,721 rejected votes.
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The Returning Officer also announced the scores of the other participating political parties, with the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, finishing third with 17,180 votes.
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Following the signing of the result sheets by representatives of the participating political parties, Ogunwole formally declared Adeleke the winner.
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He said Adeleke had satisfied the requirements of the law and was therefore declared the winner and returned elected in the August 15 governorship election.
