Osun State governor and Governor-Elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday received the Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo, declaring that with his victory during last Saturday’s gubernatorial poll, he had driven darkness out of Osun State.

Addressing the gathering at INEC headquarters in Osun State, which included top brass of the umpire, his deputy governor-elect and other dignitaries, Adeleke, who exuded joy, stated: Today is the day the Lord has made. I have forgiven everyone that offended me.”

While attributing his re-election and receipt of his Certificate of Return to the will of God, the governor stated: “What else do I want? The good Lord has fought my battle, and I have overcome. Osun State has overcome. I have brought light to Osun State, and I drove darkness out of Osun State.

“Osun State will never see darkness again; we will keep moving forward, and nobody will turn us around again. I want to seize this opportunity to call all my fellow contestants to come over; let us join hands and let’s move Osun State forward. This state is bigger than anybody, “he remarked.

Adeleke, however, restated that he had forgiven all his political detractors, just as he extended an olive branch to candidates of other political parties, who contested against him, to collaborate with his administration in moving the state forward.

According to him, “Osun State will never see darkness again; we will keep moving forward, and nobody will turn us around again. I want to seize this opportunity to call all my fellow contestants to come over, let us join hands, and let’s move Osun State forward. This state is bigger than anybody.”

“Whatever has happened in the past, let bygone be bygone because I have a fear of God. All those that offended me, I have forgiven them.”

Adeleke, who specifically lauded INEC, the Department of State Service (DSS), the CP Election, Samuel Etaifo, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies, said: “I wish the Police could do more.”

“Let me seize this opportunity to commend INEC for doing a great job.
I want to also seize this opportunity to thank the CP Election, the Police, DSS, NSCDC Police and all security agencies. I wish the Police could do more.”

Remembering the families who lost their members to political violence before the election, the governor assured that they would not be abandoned by his family.

He averred: “For the families of those who lost their members, I want to promise that the Adeleke family will take care of those they left behind not as a government but as Adeleke’s family.
Their children will be given scholarships to Adeleke High School and Adeleke University just to compensate them for their loss.”

Adeleke also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allowing democracy to thrive through the conduct of a credible governorship poll held in the state, stressing that “I really appreciate you, Mr President, for making democracy stay in Nigeria. That is all we want, and I wish you all the best in the 2027 elections.”

Earlier in her remark, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the presentation of the Certificate of Return ceremony was in fulfillment of the Electoral Act 2026 (as Amended) to the winner of Saturday’s governorship poll in Osun.

The Certificate of Return was presented to Adeleke and his Deputy Governor-elect, Prince Kola Adewusi, by the INEC National Commissioner for South West I, Professor Kunle Ajayi.