Adeleke Receives Certificate, Sets Up N500m Victims Fund

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission and announced plans to establish a N500 million fund for victims of violence linked to the 2026 governorship election.

The certificate was presented to Adeleke on Wednesday by the INEC National Commissioner representing the South-West, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, at a ceremony attended by members of the state executive council, political associates and other supporters.

Adeleke was declared the winner of the August 15 governorship election after securing 511,067 votes. His closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, polled 444,815 votes.

Receiving the certificate, Adeleke dedicated his victory to the people of Osun State, including workers, traders, young people, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other residents who participated in the election.

The governor also addressed the violence recorded before and during the election, expressing concern over the deaths, injuries and destruction of property associated with the political contest.

He announced that the state government would establish a N500 million election violence victims endowment fund to provide assistance to verified victims and families affected by the violence.

A verification and relief committee headed by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, will be responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries and supervising the distribution of assistance.

Adeleke said the support would be available to victims regardless of their political party, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.

He also disclosed that his family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide scholarships up to university level for children and dependants of people who died as a result of election-related violence.

The governor said the initiative was intended to provide humanitarian support to affected families rather than serve as a political programme.

He also named several victims, including Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass and Kolade Eluyera, while extending condolences to their families.

Meanwhile, tension returned to Osogbo later on Wednesday after gunshots were heard around the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo shortly after Adeleke visited the traditional ruler.

The governor had arrived at the palace at about 3:15pm after collecting his certificate from INEC. His convoy reportedly consisted of about 20 vehicles.

The shooting started between 3:50pm and 4:10pm, after Adeleke and his entourage had left the palace.

An eyewitness said the governor had met the Ataoja, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, inside the palace before departing with his close aides. The witness said heavy gunfire was heard shortly after the convoy left.

The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, initially said hoodlums had attacked the governor’s convoy but that security personnel repelled the attackers without casualties.

However, the police later confirmed that a 60-year-old resident, Tajudeen Yusuf, was shot dead during the incident.

According to the Osun State Police Command, the trouble began after Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as Small Rugged, allegedly attempted to gain access to singer Davido, who had accompanied his uncle, the governor, to the palace.

The police described Taoreed as an ex-convict and suspected gang member and said members of Davido’s security team prevented him from getting close to the singer.

The confrontation reportedly attracted other suspected gang members, who temporarily blocked the palace entrance and disrupted movement around the area.

The governor’s convoy eventually left the location safely, according to the police.

The police said the suspected gang members later left the area but allegedly shot Yusuf at Itaolokan in Osogbo.

A police patrol team was dispatched to the scene after receiving information about the shooting. Yusuf was taken to the University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo, where doctors later confirmed his death.

The state police command has launched an investigation and said efforts were underway to identify and arrest those responsible for the killing.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election in Osun, Samuel Etaifo, condemned the incident and called on residents with useful information to assist investigators.

The police also urged residents to remain calm and avoid retaliatory actions as the investigation continues.

Davido, in a separate statement on social media, said the incident occurred outside the palace and was unrelated to him and the governor.