Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, announced intentions to create a N500 million endowment fund for victims of election violence on Wednesday after receiving his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Prof. Kunle Ajayi, the Independent National Electoral Commission National Commissioner for the Southwest, gave him the certificate at a function that the governor’s cabinet officials and political associates attended.
According to report, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, the State Returning Officer of INEC, announced Adeleke as the winner of the governorship race on Sunday.
Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress candidate, received 444,815 votes, but Adeleke received 511,067.
Speaking at the event, Adeleke praised the contributions made by various parts of the state to his election victory.
“This certificate does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone,” he stated. It belongs to all Osun State residents who took part in this democratic process, including our laborers, market workers, young people, traditional and religious leaders, and everyone else.
“The confidence you have restored in me deeply humbles me.”
Speaking about those killed and injured in the run-up to the election, the governor stated that a verification and relief committee led by Adewale Egbedun, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, would manage the fund and supervise the fair distribution of assistance and the transparent identification of victims.
But even when we succeed, we need to reflect soberly. People suffered injuries, their homes and means of subsistence were destroyed, and—most tragically—valuable lives were lost.
“Having to bury a loved one due to politics is extremely hard for any family. A single citizen’s life is not worth any election, political position, or goal.
“We honor Kolade Eluyera, Remi Abass, Aderogba Ajayi, Ezekiel Olapade, and all other victims of electoral violence.
They were first and foremost our brothers, sisters, and fellow citizens, regardless of their political stance. The governor continued, “To their families, your suffering is our suffering, and your loved ones will never be reduced to mere statistics.”
He announced that the children and dependents of those who died would get complete scholarships up to the university level from his family through the Springtime Development Foundation.
In order to assist confirmed victims and impacted families, the Osun State Government would also create a N500 million endowment fund for victims of election violence.
“The Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon Adewale Olumide Egbedun, will chair a verification and relief committee that will supervise the fair distribution of assistance and the transparent identification of victims.
“This intervention isn’t political. It’s a humanitarian obligation.
Political affiliation, religion, race, gender, or social class will not be grounds for exclusion of any eligible victim. There is no political party in sadness. We are one people in our shared humanity,” he declared.
At the Ataoja Palace, gunfire
On Wednesday, after an attack on the governor’s convoy during a visit to the monarch, gunfire erupted for around fifteen minutes in the vicinity of the Ataoja of Osogbo’s palace.
However, the governor’s nephew, David Adeleke, better known by his stage name Davido, claimed that neither he nor his uncle were involved in the incident.
The event happened between 3:50 and 4:10 p.m., just after Adeleke had left the hall where he had been entertained by the Ataoja.
The governor left INEC’s Osun State headquarters, where he was given his certificate of return, and arrived at the palace at approximately 3:15 p.m. in a sizable procession of roughly 20 cars.
In a phone call, an eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons informed that Oba Oyetunji welcomed Adeleke and his group to the palace hall, where the governor allegedly gave the monarch his certificate of return.
Adeleke and his group had departed the palace before to the subsequent gunfire, according to the source.
“When we heard loud gunfire, he was already on the bus carrying him and his close associates to the palace.
According to the source, “the governor’s convoy eventually left the palace after the shooting lasted about 12 to 15 minutes.”
The attackers may have found out about the governor’s visit to the king, according to a trader close to the palace known only as Munirat.
They were turned away by the governor’s security because they are thugs. In Ataoja’s palace, they ambushed the governor’s caravan. “No casualties,” stated Alimi.
When our correspondent left the area at 4:45 p.m., many business owners had quickly shut down their establishments in order to avoid being involved in the attack.
Davido clarified in a post on his official X account on Wednesday that neither he nor his uncle were involved in the attack, which took place outside the Ataoja of Osogbo’s palace.
The singer stated, “It was a fight outside the palace that had nothing to do with us.”
One is confirmed dead by the police.
However, as it began an investigation into the incident, the state police command verified that one citizen, Tajudeen Yusuf, was shot and killed during the subsequent altercation.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, provided updates on the incident in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday. He stated that Adebayo Taoreed, also known as “Small Rugged,” an ex-convict, a suspected thug, and a member of the eye fraternity, allegedly tried to gain access to Afrobeats artist Davido, who had accompanied the governor to the palace, but was thwarted by members of his security team.
“On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at approximately 1600 hours, the command received information that one Tajudeen Yusuf, male, 60 years of age, of Oke-Ayepe area, Osogbo, was shot by suspected hoodlums at Itaolokan area of Osogbo.
The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, received a courtesy visit at the palace earlier in the day from His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and his nephew, David Adeleke, also known as Davido, according to preliminary research.
Adebayo Taoreed, also known as “Small Rugged,” an ex-convict, a reputed renowned thug, and a member of the Eye fraternity, allegedly tried to enter Davido shortly after the visit but was thwarted by members of his security team.
Other suspected gang members in the area reportedly became involved in the ensuing altercation, temporarily obstructing the movement and blocking the palace’s entrance. Eventually, the convoy safely departed the area.
“The suspected gang members reportedly left the area shortly after, but they allegedly shot Tajudeen Yusuf in the Itaolokan area of Osogbo on the way.”
He added that the victim was discovered lying in a pool of blood when the police dispatched a patrol team to the scene as soon as they received the information. He was quickly taken to the University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo for medical attention, where the on-duty doctors declared him dead.
According to him, the command has started a thorough investigation into the incident and stepped up efforts to find, capture, and prosecute the fugitive individuals.
In response, Mr. Samuel Etaifo, Commissioner of Police (Election), Osun State Command, issued a statement denouncing the murder and promising the public that the command will use every resource at its disposal to capture the perpetrators.
Therefore, the command advises anyone who may have important information that could help with the investigation to get in touch with the command through its formal channels or the closest police station as soon as possible. The statement went on, “The public is also advised to maintain composure and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.”
