The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the polling unit of former Osun State Governor and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Mr Aregbesola, who defected from the APC last year, is a leader and the national secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

At PU001, Coop. Building Junction, Isare, Ward 08, Ilesa East Local Government Area, where Mr Aregbesola earlier voted on Saturday the APC’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, secured 256 votes to come top there.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party came second with 43 votes, while ADC’s candidate Najeem Salaam came third with 13 votes.

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The result represents an early setback for the ADC, whose candidate, Mr Salaam, is being backed by Mr Aregbesola, one of the party’s major political figures in Osun.

Mr Aregbesola, who governed Osun State from 2010 to 2018, earlier cast his ballot at his hometown, Ilesa.

ADC also loses nearby polling unit

The ADC also suffered a similar defeat at another polling unit close to Mr Aregbesola’s family compound.

At PU007, Elegant D.C. (Agbon Arugbo), Isare, Ward 08, Ilesa East LGA, the APC polled 202 votes, while the Accord Party secured 110 votes and the ADC received 12 votes.

The results from the two polling units could be significant for the ADC, which has positioned itself as a major alternative to the two leading parties in the election.

The incumbent governor, Mr Adeleke, is seeking re-election.

Aregbesola, ADC

The ADC is considered by many in Osun State as a third force, given the status and political relevance of Mr Aregbesola, who governed the state between 2010 and 2018, first on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and later the APC, which he helped establish in 2013.

Mr Aregbesola remains one of the influential political figures in Osun State. After serving two terms as governor, he became Minister of Interior under the APC before defecting to the ADC, where he emerged as the National Secretary of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark.