Reported by Musa Antiketu,| Journalist at Obaland magazine.
OSOGBO, Osun State — The 2026 Osun State governorship election has entered its crucial counting and collation phase, with the first polling-unit results beginning to emerge after voting ended in several locations across the state on Saturday.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced the sorting and counting of ballot papers at polling units where voting had concluded, while party agents, observers and voters monitored the process. Reports from multiple media organisations indicate that voting was still continuing in some locations as counting began elsewhere.
According to PUNCH, one of the early results announced came from Ward 4, Unit 39, in Osogbo Local Government Area. The Accord Party recorded 65 votes, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 43. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured two votes, while the ZLP, AA and AAC recorded one vote each at the polling unit.
The emerging figures are, however, polling-unit results and do not represent the final outcome of the governorship election. The results must pass through the prescribed collation process before INEC can make an official declaration.
The election has attracted significant attention across Osun, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, the APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and other contenders seeking the mandate of the electorate. Reports indicate that the leading candidates expressed confidence in their chances after casting their ballots.
The transition from voting to counting is a critical stage in the electoral process. At polling units where voting has ended, electoral officials are expected to sort the ballots, count votes and record the results in the presence of relevant party agents and observers.
Channels Television reported that sorting and counting had commenced in parts of Ilesa West and Ejigbo, while TVC News also reported similar developments in Osogbo and Ile-Ife.
INEC has also begun uploading polling-unit results to its Result Viewing Portal, allowing members of the public and political stakeholders to monitor results electronically. PUNCH reported that 402 of the 3,763 expected polling-unit results had been uploaded as of 4:03 p.m., representing 10.68 per cent.
A later update from Vanguard reported that more than 25 per cent of the expected results had been uploaded, illustrating how rapidly the electronic transmission process was progressing as polling-unit counting continued.
The process remains closely watched amid reports of isolated concerns, including complaints about the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), allegations of vote-buying and a reported outbreak of violence at a polling unit in Ejigbo Local Government Area.
For Obaland magazine, the emergence of early figures should be treated with caution. Polling-unit results can provide an indication of voting patterns, but they cannot independently establish the winner until the legally prescribed collation process is completed and the appropriate Returning Officer makes the declaration.
The focus now shifts to transparent collation, accurate transmission of results and peaceful conduct by political parties, candidates and their supporters. As INEC continues the process, voters and observers will be watching closely to ensure that the final declaration reflects the ballots cast across Osun State.
Sources
- PUNCH
- Channels Television
- TVC News
- Vanguard
- THISDAY
First results from the 2026 Osun governorship election emerge as voting ends in several polling units and INEC begins sorting, counting, electronic uploads and collation across the state.