The Osun State Governor and Accord Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke, has won 19 of the 30 Local Government Areas in Saturday’s governorship election, while his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, secured victory in 11 LGAs.

The results, announced at various local government collation centres across the state, put Adeleke ahead of Oyebamiji as the Independent National Electoral Commission commenced the final collation of results at the state collation centre in Osogbo on Sunday.

With results from all 30 LGAs declared, Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji recorded 444,815 votes.

The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished a distant third with 17,180 votes based on the figures announced from the LGAs.

A total of 15 political parties participated in the election, but the contest was largely dominated by the Accord Party and the APC, which secured victories across the state.

Adeleke consolidated his position with strong performances in several LGAs, including Osogbo, where he polled 36,480 votes against Oyebamiji’s 30,474; Ede North, where he scored 35,427 against 10,283; and Ede South, where he recorded 26,188 votes to the APC candidate’s 6,219.

He also won Ife Central with 21,171 votes, Ife East with 27,201, Iwo with 27,085, Oriade with 21,343, Ifelodun with 21,107 and Egbedore with 19,278 votes.

Oyebamiji, however, recorded notable victories in Ilesa East, where he polled 16,208 votes against Adeleke’s 12,280; Boripe with 19,963 against 12,448; Irepodun with 15,713 against 14,504; Obokun with 16,120 against 12,023; Irewole with 29,972 against 10,934; and Olorunda with 24,671 against 23,514.

The APC candidate also won Atakumosa West, Atakumosa East, Olaoluwa, Ife South and Isokan LGAs.

Other LGAs won by Adeleke include Boluwaduro, Ife North, Ilesa West, Ifedayo, Odo Otin, Ayedire, Ayedaade and Ila.

The final declaration of the winner is expected to be made by the State Returning Officer, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, after the completion of the collation exercise at the INEC state collation centre in Osogbo.

The election is being closely watched as the final outcome will determine whether Adeleke secures another term in office or the APC returns to power in the state.