Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has announced automatic scholarships up to university level for the children and dependents of people who lost their lives in the build-up to the election in the last August 15, 2026 poll
The measures announced on Wednesday, aimed at supporting families affected by electoral violence in the build-up to the governorship election.
Governor Adeleke made the announcement at a separate celebration rally organised by the Osun labour movement, shortly after receiving his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
He also pledged that the Osun State Government would establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to provide relief and support to verified victims and families affected by the violence.
“As part of our commitment to supporting affected families, the Adeleke family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, will provide automatic scholarships up to university level for the children and dependents of those who lost their lives,” the governor declared.
“But as we celebrate, we must remember those who paid a painful price during the electoral process. Citizens were injured, properties were destroyed, livelihoods disrupted and, most painfully, lives were lost.
“In addition, the Osun State Government will establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to provide relief and support to verified victims and families affected by the violence.
A Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, will oversee the transparent identification and assessment of victims and the equitable distribution of relief.
“This is not a political fund. It is a humanitarian intervention. No eligible victim will be discriminated against on the basis of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status,” Adeleke told the workers at the state secretariat.
Earlier, Adeleke said that his Certificate of Return “belongs to the people of Osun State”.
An excited Adeleke danced amid cheers and jubilation from Accord Party members and supporters.
Speaking at the ceremony, Adeleke said he had forgiven all those who might have offended him during the state election and declared that he bore no grudge against political adversaries.
“God has fought my battles for me, and so I hold unto God throughout the duration of the political war and now that I have been re-elected,” he said.
“Today is not merely a day for the presentation of a Certificate of Return. It is a day of gratitude, reflection and, above all, appreciation for the people of Osun State who stood firm for democracy.
This certificate does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone. It belongs to the people of Osun State, the market men and women, workers, youths, traditional and religious leaders, and every citizen who demonstrates that our democracy cannot be intimidated, purchased or suppressed. I am deeply humbled by your courage and by the confidence you have renewed in me.
Adeleke also commended INEC for acting professionally and within the dictates of the Electoral Act.
“I commend the electoral commission for doing a good job. You stood for democracy. I commend the security agencies, especially the Commissioner of Police for the election; the DSS. I would have loved the police to do more, but we thank God the election day went violence-free,” the governor added.
He later arrived at the Ataoja Palace in Osogbo, where he commiserated with families of those killed or injured during the electoral process.
“We remember Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass, Kolade Eluyera, and the many other victims whose lives were cut short or permanently affected by electoral violence. To their families, I say: your pain has not been forgotten, and your loved ones will never be reduced to statistics,” he said while lamenting the loss of lives.
Adeleke later visited the Ataoja of Osogbo, the Timi of Ede and Senator Oluwole Alabi to present his certificate of return for royal blessings.
Earlier, the INEC National Commissioner for the Osun election, Kunle Ajayi, commended Osun voters for defying electoral violence and turning out to exercise their voting rights.
INEC declared Adeleke the winner of the election on Sunday, with the governor polling 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, polled 17,180 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won in 11, securing the incumbent governor a second term of four years.
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