Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has announced a ₦500 million fund to support victims and families affected by electoral violence during the build-up to the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Adeleke made the announcement on Wednesday while speaking at a celebration rally organised by the Osun labour movement, shortly after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He also announced that children and dependants of people who lost their lives during the electoral process would receive automatic scholarships through university level.
“As part of our commitment to supporting affected families, the Adeleke family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, will provide automatic scholarships up to university level for the children and dependents of those who lost their lives,” the governor said.
He acknowledged the human and economic cost of the election, noting that several people were injured, properties destroyed, livelihoods disrupted and lives lost.
“In addition, the Osun State Government will establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to provide relief and support to verified victims and families affected by the violence,” Adeleke said.
He said a Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Egbedun, would be responsible for identifying and assessing victims and ensuring the transparent distribution of assistance.
“This is not a political fund. It is a humanitarian intervention. No eligible victim will be discriminated against on the basis of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status,” Adeleke told workers at the state secretariat.
‘This certificate belongs to Osun people’
Earlier, Adeleke described his Certificate of Return as a symbol of the people’s mandate rather than a personal achievement.
The governor, who was visibly elated, danced as supporters of the Accord Party and other well-wishers celebrated his victory.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Adeleke said he had forgiven those who may have wronged him during the election and had no ill feelings towards his political opponents.
“God has fought my battles for me, and so I held on to God throughout the duration of the political war and now that I have been re-elected,” he said.
He described the occasion as a moment of gratitude to Osun voters for defending the democratic process.
“Today is not merely a day for the presentation of a Certificate of Return. It is a day of gratitude, reflection and, above all, appreciation for the people of Osun State who stood firm for democracy,” Adeleke said.
“This certificate does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone. It belongs to the people of Osun State, the market men and women, workers, youths, traditional and religious leaders, and every citizen who demonstrated that our democracy cannot be intimidated, purchased or suppressed.”
The governor also commended INEC for what he described as a professional handling of the election and praised security agencies for their role in maintaining peace on polling day.
“I commend the electoral commission for doing a good job. You stood for democracy. I commend the security agencies, especially the Commissioner of Police for the election; the DSS,” Adeleke said.
“I would have loved the police to do more, but we thank God the election day went violence-free.”
Adeleke honours victims
After the ceremony, Adeleke visited the Ataoja Palace in Osogbo, where he met with families of people who were killed or injured during the electoral process.
“We remember Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass, Kolade Eluyera, and the many other victims whose lives were cut short or permanently affected by electoral violence,” he said.
“To their families, I say: your pain has not been forgotten, and your loved ones will never be reduced to statistics.”
The governor also visited the Timi of Ede and Senator Oluwole Alabi as part of visits to prominent traditional and community leaders to present his Certificate of Return and seek their blessings.
Earlier, INEC National Commissioner for the Osun election, Kunle Ajayi, commended voters for turning out despite concerns over electoral violence.
INEC declared Adeleke the winner of the August 15 election on Sunday after he secured 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11.
The result gives Adeleke another four-year term as governor of Osun State.
