Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission and announced plans to establish a N500m election violence victims endowment fund.
The certificate was presented to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission National Commissioner representing the South-West, Prof Kunle Ajayi, at an event attended by political associates of the governor and members of his cabinet.
The PUNCH reports that Adeleke was declared winner of the governorship election by the State Returning Officer of INEC, Prof Joshua Ogunwole, on Sunday.
Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
Speaking during the ceremony, Adeleke lauded the roles played by different segments of the state in his victory at the poll.
He said, “This certificate does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone. It belongs to the people of Osun State: our workers, market men and women, youths, traditional and religious leaders, and every citizen who participated in this democratic process.
“I am deeply humbled by the confidence you have renewed in me.”
Speaking on those injured and killed in the build-up to the election, the governor said a verification and relief committee, to be chaired by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, would administer the fund and oversee the transparent identification of victims and equitable distribution of support.
“But even in victory, we must be sober in reflection. Citizens were injured, properties and livelihoods were destroyed and, most painfully, precious lives were lost.
“It is deeply painful that any family should have to bury a loved one because of politics. No election, political office or ambition is worth the life of a single citizen.
“We remember Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass, Kolade Eluyera, and every other victim of electoral violence.
“Regardless of political affiliation, they were first our brothers, sisters and fellow citizens. To their families, your pain is our pain, and your loved ones will never be reduced to mere statistics,” the governor added.
He said his family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide full scholarships up to university level for the children and dependants of those who lost their lives.
“The Osun State Government will also establish a N500m election violence victims endowment fund to support verified victims and affected families.
“A verification and relief committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adewale Olumide Egbedun, will oversee the transparent identification of victims and equitable distribution of support.
“This is not a political intervention. It is a humanitarian responsibility.
“No eligible victim will be excluded because of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status. In grief, there is no political party. In our common humanity, we are one people,” he said.
Gunshots at Ataoja palace
Meanwhile, gunshots rang out near the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo for about 15 minutes on Wednesday following an attack on the governor’s convoy during a visit to the monarch.
The nephew of the governor and Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, however, said the incident had nothing to do with him or his uncle.
The incident occurred between 3:50 pm and 4:10 pm, shortly after Adeleke had left the hall where the Ataoja hosted him.
The governor, in a large motorcade of about 20 vehicles, had arrived at the palace at about 3:15 pm after leaving the Osun State headquarters of INEC, where he received his certificate of return.
An eyewitness, who craved anonymity for security reasons, told The PUNCH during a telephone interview that Adeleke and his team were received in the palace hall by Oba Oyetunji, where the governor reportedly presented his certificate of return to the monarch.
The source confirmed that Adeleke and his team had left the palace before the ensuing gunshots.
“He was already in the bus that brought him and his close aides to the palace when we started hearing heavy gunshots.
“The shooting lasted about 12 to 15 minutes before the governor’s convoy eventually left the palace,” the source said.
A trader near the palace, identified simply as Munirat, said the attackers might have learnt of the governor’s visit to the monarch.
When contacted, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed the attack.
“They are hoodlums, and the governor’s security repelled them. They attacked the governor’s convoy in Ataoja’s palace. No casualty,” Alimi said.
As of 4:45 pm when our correspondent left the scene, many business owners had hurriedly closed their shops to avoid being caught in the attack.
Making a clarification in a post on his official X account on Wednesday, Davido said the attack occurred outside the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo and had nothing to do with him or his uncle.
“It was a fight outside the palace that had nothing to do with us,” the singer wrote.
Police confirm one dead
The state police command, however, confirmed one resident, Tajudeen Yusuf, was shot dead during the ensuing melee, as it commenced a probe into the incident.
Giving updates on the incident in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said one Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as “Small Rugged,” an ex-convict, a suspected thug and a member of eye confraternity allegedly attempted to gain access to the Afrobeats star, Davido who had accompanied the governor to the palace, but was resisted by members of his security team.
Ojelabi said, “On Wednesday, 19th August 2026, at about 1600hrs, the command received information that one Tajudeen Yusuf, male, aged 60 years, of Oke-Ayepe area, Osogbo, was shot by suspected hoodlums at Itaolokan area of Osogbo.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that earlier in the day, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, accompanied by his nephew, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, paid a courtesy visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, at the palace.
“Immediately after the visit, one Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as ‘Small Rugged’, an ex-convict, a suspected notorious thug and a member of the Eye confraternity, allegedly attempted to gain access to Davido but was resisted by members of his security Team.
“The ensuing confrontation reportedly attracted other suspected gang members in the vicinity, who temporarily blocked the entrance to the palace and obstructed the movement. The convoy eventually left the area safely.
“Shortly afterwards, the suspected gang members reportedly departed the vicinity; however, on their way, they allegedly shot Tajudeen Yusuf at Itaolokan area of Osogbo.”
He further said that upon receiving the information, the police immediately mobilised a patrol team to the scene, where the victim was found lying in a pool of blood, adding that he was promptly rushed to the University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for medical attention, where he was pronounced dead by the doctors on duty.
He said the command has commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident and intensified efforts to identify, apprehend and bring the fleeing suspects to justice.
Reacting through the statement, the Commissioner of Police (Election), Osun State Command, Mr Samuel Etaifo, condemned the killing and assured members of the public that the command would deploy all available resources to apprehend those responsible.
“The command therefore urges anyone with useful information that could assist the investigation to promptly approach the nearest police station or contact the command through its official channels. Members of the public are also advised to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands,” the statement further read.
Source: punchng.com
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