The commission presented the certificate to Adeleke on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at its headquarters in Osogbo.
The presentation followed Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
INEC declared him the winner after the final collation of results.
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes in the election.
He defeated his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
The Certificate of Return now formally confirms Adeleke’s electoral victory.
It also marks another major step towards his second term in office.
INEC officials presented the document during a ceremony attended by government officials, political leaders and supporters.
Other stakeholders also attended the event as the governor formally received the document.
Speaking after the presentation, Adeleke thanked the people of Osun State for their support.
He also called for unity across political divides after the election.
The governor said the state must now focus on development and the interests of its people.
“The election is over, and it is now time to unite Osun,” Adeleke said.
He also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s role in sustaining democracy during the electoral process.
Meanwhile, Adeleke has taken steps to address concerns linked to the election period.
He announced a N500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund for verified victims and their families.
The governor also announced scholarship support for children of victims of electoral violence.
According to reports, he made the announcement while receiving his Certificate of Return at the INEC headquarters in Osogbo.
The move comes after a closely contested campaign that generated strong political reactions across the state.
However, Adeleke has urged residents to put political differences behind them.
He said his administration would continue to serve people across party lines.
The certificate presentation also provides a formal conclusion to the immediate post-election process.
INEC’s declaration had already confirmed Adeleke as the winner of the August 15 poll.
The certificate now gives formal recognition to that mandate.
For Adeleke, the ceremony represents the beginning of another phase of his administration.
The governor will now prepare to continue his tenure with a renewed mandate from Osun voters.
His administration is expected to focus on its development agenda as the new mandate takes shape.
Furthermore, the governor faces the task of bringing political camps together after a competitive election.
Political observers have also urged all parties to respect the electoral outcome and pursue any grievances through lawful channels.
Adeleke’s receipt of the Certificate of Return therefore marks an important moment in Osun’s political calendar.
The governor now has another mandate to lead the state and pursue his development plans.
For residents, the focus is gradually shifting from electioneering to governance.
The governor has also promised to work for the entire state rather than only his supporters.
As the new term approaches, expectations will remain high across Osun.
Residents will look to the administration for stronger development, better infrastructure and improved economic opportunities.
The Certificate of Return ceremony has therefore closed one chapter of the 2026 Osun governorship election.
It has also opened another chapter focused on governance, unity and delivery.
Adeleke’s second mandate will now face the test of performance.
For the people of Osun, the next phase will centre on whether the administration can turn its renewed mandate into tangible improvements across the state.
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