The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said it is studying the results of the 2026 governorship election across the state before deciding whether to challenge the outcome in court.
The party said it was examining the results from all 332 wards with a view to determining whether there were grounds to seek legal redress over issues arising from the electoral process.
The APC made this known in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, following the declaration of the election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The party said it had not taken a final decision on its next step but would consult its legal team before deciding whether to use the legal avenues provided by the law.
“We are currently studying the results of the governorship election in each of the 332 wards across the state with a view to exploring further the allowed constitutional window of opportunity in this regard,” the statement said.
The development came shortly after INEC declared the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, the winner of the election.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, who polled 444,815 votes.
The governor won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won in 11 local government areas.
The result gave Adeleke a margin of 66,252 votes and secured his second term as governor of the state.
However, the APC said the declaration of the result did not necessarily mark the end of the electoral process, pointing out that dissatisfied parties had the right to seek legal remedies where they believed there were grounds to do so.
The party said elections involved several stages, beginning with voter registration and party primaries and continuing through the actual voting and the announcement of results.
It said the process could extend to the election tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, depending on the nature of any dispute that might arise.
“We are not unaware of the fact that election is a process which begins at the registration of voters through the primary election to the election proper, which extends to the Tribunal, the Appeal Court and terminates at the Supreme Court,” the APC said.
The party therefore argued that an election should not be considered completely concluded until all constitutionally permitted legal avenues had been exhausted.
“An election cannot be said to have been concluded without having explored all these constitutionally allowed legal opportunities to correct anomalies observed in the process of the election as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2026 as amended,” it stated.
The party did not, however, state the specific irregularities it was studying or identify particular polling units or wards where it believed the election had been compromised.
Instead, it said it would first examine the results and consult its lawyers before taking a decision.
The APC also thanked its members and supporters for their participation and commitment during the election.
It said their efforts had taken the party to an important stage in the political history of Osun State, despite the outcome announced by INEC.
The party also reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, fairness and justice.
According to the APC, any decision to challenge the election would be based on professional advice from its legal team and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“We shall not hesitate without further delay to explore the window allowed by the extant Electoral Act after due consultation with the team of our lawyers based on their professional advice,” the statement said.
The position of the APC is not unusual in Nigerian elections, where political parties and candidates who are dissatisfied with results often turn to election tribunals to challenge the outcome.
Under Nigeria’s electoral system, a candidate or political party seeking to challenge the result of a governorship election must do so through the appropriate legal process and within the period prescribed by law.
Election petitions may raise issues relating to the conduct of the election, compliance with electoral laws, qualification of candidates, voting and the counting or declaration of results.
Any such challenge must be supported with evidence, while the courts ultimately determine whether the grounds presented are sufficient to overturn or alter an election result.
The APC’s statement therefore suggests that the party is yet to decide whether the available evidence would justify a formal petition.
The party also appealed to its members and supporters to remain calm following the election.
It warned them against responding to what it described as provocative actions by supporters of the ruling party.
The APC further called on the Nigeria Police Force to protect its members whom it alleged were being harassed or molested.
The party did not provide details of the alleged incidents or identify those responsible.
It nevertheless assured its members that it would continue to stand by them during the period following the election.
“We are assuring them that we won’t have any cause or reason to abandon them. The current political situation is a passing phase which will soon become part of history as justice shall be done accordingly,” the party said.
The call for calm comes against the background of a highly competitive governorship election in the state.
The election attracted considerable attention because of the rivalry between the PDP and APC and the wider political significance of Osun in the South-West.
The party’s decision to study the results across all 332 wards could therefore also be part of a broader assessment of its performance during the election.
Beyond any possible legal challenge, the APC will have to consider the political implications of the result and determine how to rebuild its support base ahead of future elections.
For Adeleke, the result gives him another opportunity to pursue his policies and programmes in the state.
His second term will also place greater responsibility on his administration to meet the expectations of voters who supported his re-election.
Meanwhile, the APC’s proposed review of the results could keep the Osun election in the political spotlight in the coming weeks.
If the party eventually decides to file a petition, the dispute will move from the political arena to the courts, where evidence from the election will be examined.
For now, however, the APC has stopped short of announcing a legal challenge.
Its immediate position is that the results must first be studied and assessed by its legal team before a final decision is taken.
The party said it remained committed to the rule of law and would use any available constitutional and legal mechanism if its review showed sufficient grounds for action.
The development means that while INEC has declared Adeleke the winner, the political and legal process surrounding the election may not yet be over.