From the early morning queues at polling units to the quiet anticipation of voters waiting to cast their ballots, the 2026 Osun governorship election which took place on Saturday, 15 August, unfolded through a series of moments that captured the mood of a State deciding its next leader. Across communities, voters turned out to exercise their franchise amid varying scenes of excitement, anxiety and determination.
By Sunday morning, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party winner with 511,067 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 444,815 votes, while Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) finished a distant third with 17,180 votes.
For DevReporting, the election was not only about the numbers or the eventual outcome. Our team was on the ground across Osun to document the people, places and moments that shaped the electoral process. From voters and electoral officials to security personnel, party agents and the wider atmosphere around polling units, our lens captured the scenes that defined the moments.
Through these photographs, DevReporting presents a visual account of #OsunDecides2026. See some of the images below:
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Electoral officers sort and count ballot papers after voters cast their votes at Bara A, Ward 5, Unit 7, Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun Central Senatorial District, during the #OsunDecides2026 governorship election. The process followed the close of voting as officials began sorting the ballots in preparation for counting and the announcement of results at the polling unit.
Voters sitting patiently at a polling unit in Osogbo, Osun State, as hundreds of citizens turn out to exercise their right to vote during the #OsunDecides2026 governorship election. The long queues reflected the strong interest and anticipation surrounding the election as voters waited for their turn to be accredited and cast their ballots.
INEC officials leave a polling area in Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Osun State, after the conclusion of voting during the #OsunDecides2026 governorship election. The officials concluded the polling process after voters were accredited and cast their ballots.
Soldiers and police repel an attempt by suspected thugs to snatch a ballot box in the Ataoja area of Osogbo, Osun State, during the #OsunDecides2026 governorship election. The intervention helped prevent disruption of the voting process as security personnel responded to the incident.
Residents and supporters celebrate in Ede, Osun State, following the announcement of Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the #OsunDecides2026 governorship election. The announcement sparked scenes of jubilation as supporters gathered to celebrate the outcome of the poll.
An Accord Party supporter rides a motorcycle while celebrating the announcement of Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the #OsunDecides2026 governorship election in Osun State.
DevReporting Team Lead, Mojeed Alabi, captures the unfolding electoral process as security personnel monitor activities at a polling location in Osogbo, Osun State, during the #OsunDecides2026 governorship election.
More residents take to the streets in Ede, Osun State, to celebrate the emergence of Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the #OsunDecides2026 governorship election.
From long queues of voters and the orderly sorting of ballots to moments of tension, security intervention and jubilation, the election reflected the resilience of democratic participation in Osun.
For DevReporting, being on the ground offered an opportunity to document the election as it unfolded through the experiences of voters, electoral officials, security personnel, political actors and communities. While malpractices were recorded in some locations, including attempts to snatch ballot boxes, the overall process featured significant moments of citizen participation.
These photographs serve not only as a record of #OsunDecides2026, but also as a visual reminder that democracy does not end with the casting or counting of ballots. It continues in the demand for accountability, effective governance and respect for the citizens whose votes confer political power.
Source: Development Reporting
