OSOGBO, Nigeria — Civil servants and labour union members in Osun State on Monday, August 17, 2026, shut down the state secretariat in Abere, Osogbo, in a mass celebration of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election victory in the August 15 governorship election.
Workers trooped out in large numbers, blocking roads leading to the secretariat and taking over its frontage as well as the roundabout at Abere along the Osogbo-Gbongan Road.
They sang, danced and chanted in support of the governor, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party and defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adeleke the winner with 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, a margin of 66,252 votes. Adeleke secured victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.
Labour leaders addressed the gathering at intervals. The Osun State President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Kehinde Ogunbangbe, described the outcome as a collective triumph for the labour movement of Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke… is not his victory alone. It is the victory for the labour movement in Osun State, most especially NULGE and all the members of local government workforce in Osun State,” he said.
Osun Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman Comrade Christopher Arapasopo was also present among the leaders who joined the celebrations. Workers praised the Adeleke administration as worker-friendly, citing consistent salary payments, welfare measures and other policies. Many said they viewed the election result as a form of “silent” reciprocity for the governor’s attention to their interests.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Osun State Council, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, congratulated the workers and residents, urging them to remain steadfast. He noted that the clear vote margin reflected the will of the people and dismissed potential legal challenges by the opposition.
The spontaneous gathering at the secretariat formed part of broader celebrations across Osun following the announcement of the results. Residents, party supporters and various groups continued to mark the re-election in different parts of the state. Adeleke has previously received strong endorsements from organised labour, which had publicly backed his second-term bid on the basis of his record on workers’ welfare.
The governor has extended an olive branch to political opponents and pledged to focus on uniting the state and advancing development in his second term.
About the Author
