Osun State Governor and Accord Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke was one of those who voted early Saturday, as voting gets underway in the 2026 governorship election across the state.
Adeleke voted at his polling unit in Ede North Local Government Area, where he exercised his franchise alongside other eligible voters.
Speaking to journalists after voting, Adeleke said he was satisfied with the conduct of the process so far and expressed confidence that he would emerge winner.
His participation came as voters turned out across the state to elect the governor who will lead Osun for the next four years.
The election is being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the state’s 30 local government areas.
Reports from several polling units indicate that voters and electoral officials arrived early, with accreditation and voting commencing in different locations.
Adeleke, who is seeking re-election, is contesting under the Accord Party against several candidates, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam.
The governor’s voting marks an important moment in a closely watched election, with attention focused on voter turnout, the conduct of polling officials and the overall credibility of the process.
Strong voters turnout
Osun has 2.3 million registered voters, with at least 1.9 million residents expected to participate in the election, which features 15 candidates in a keenly contested race.
Accreditation and voting officially commenced at 8:30 a.m., following the early distribution and deployment of election materials across the state.
At 9:10 a.m., Governor Ademola Adeleke cast his ballot at Abogunde Comprehensive 009, Ward 02, Abogunde Sagba, Ede North.
The governor, who is also the candidate of the Accord Party, had arrived at the polling unit at 8:36 a.m. for accreditation and voting.
At Iroyin Ayo Open Space Polling Unit 013, Elejigbo D/Elejemo Ward, Ejigbo Local Government Area, party agents insisted that presiding officers count all ballot papers before voting commenced.
The presiding officers, however, said counting all the ballot papers could delay the commencement of the process.
The polling unit has 594 registered voters and is the polling unit of ADC governorship candidate, Najeem Salam.
Voters gathered early at several polling units across the state ahead of the commencement of voting.
At Sabo Agbongbe II, Ward 7, Polling Units 001 and 011 in Ede Local Government Area, voting cubicles and other election materials had been set up by 7:50 a.m., with polling officers preparing to commence the exercise.
Voters were also seen waiting to cast their ballots, while some checked their names on the voters’ register displayed at the polling units.
At Egbedore Ward, Abogunde Primary School polling unit, voters gathered ahead of accreditation and voting, while voters also turned out at Unit 7, Oke-Oja, Osogbo, as INEC officials prepared the polling unit for the exercise.
The election materials had begun arriving at polling locations from 7:00 a.m. as INEC commenced distribution across the state.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu urged INEC and security agencies to ensure that the election is peaceful, transparent and credible.
Security personnel have also been deployed across the state as authorities seek to prevent disruptions during the exercise.
