The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election, describing his victory as a reflection of the strides made by his administration and his personal qualities.

The NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, conveyed the forum’s message in a statement issued on Sunday.

The forum also commended the people of Osun State for their participation in Saturday’s governorship election, as well as the security agencies for maintaining a secure environment for the poll.

“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) congratulates His Excellency Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on his victory at the polls over the weekend.

“The NGF acknowledges the strides and personality of the Governor, which readily paid off at the keenly contested election,” AbdulRazaq said.

The forum further commended the people of the state for the “large turnouts” during the election, saying the interest generated by the off-cycle poll demonstrated the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy.

It also acknowledged the role of opposition parties in the democratic process and commended all the candidates who participated in the election.

“The Forum acknowledges the incredibly important role that opposition parties also play in shaping our democracy, and we commend all the candidates for their efforts.”

The NGF also praised the security agencies for curtailing what it described as the initial trend of violence in the days leading up to the election and for creating conditions that allowed the poll to proceed “without much incident,” the statement read.

The governors’ forum equally commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as a statesmanlike approach to the election.

The NGF expressed confidence that Adeleke would build on the achievements of his first term during his second tenure.

The Osun State governorship election ended with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke securing a second term.

Contesting under the Accord Party, Adeleke won 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. ADC candidate Najeem Salaam came third with 17,180 votes.

Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.

Following the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adeleke described his victory as a triumph for democracy and promised to use his second term to transform Osun from a civil-service-dependent state into an industrial hub.

He also called for unity, saying there was no victor or vanquished.

The APC, however, said it was reviewing results from the 332 wards and considering constitutionally permitted legal options under the Electoral Act.

President Bola Tinubu congratulated Adeleke, saying the result reflected the will of Osun voters. Opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi also congratulated him.

Adeleke’s victory sparked celebrations across Osun, particularly in Osogbo and his hometown, with his nephew, Afrobeats star Davido, also celebrating the result enthusiastically on his social media handle after supporting his campaign.