Professor Joshua Ogunwole, an accomplished soil scientist and university administrator, served as INEC’s Returning Officer for the August 15 Osun governorship election
Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), was the official who declared Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party winner of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The declaration was made at the state collation centre in Osogbo in the early hours of Sunday, August 16, following the completion of collation of results from all 30 local government areas.
Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes—a winning margin of 66,252 votes. Adeleke won 19 LGAs, while Oyebamiji won 11.
Ogunwole subsequently declared Adeleke elected after the results were presented and signed by representatives of the participating political parties.
“That Ademola Nurudeen-Jackson Adeleke, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner of the August 15 Governorship Election and returned elected.”
WHO IS PROFESSOR JOSHUA OGUNWOLE?
Ogunwole is a professor of Soil Science and an experienced university administrator. He is the fifth substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUOYE, having assumed office in February 2026. The university itself confirms his appointment and current position.
Born on July 23, 1967, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Ogunwole hails from Ogbomoso. He began his education at St Anne’s Primary Boarding School, Kakuri, Kaduna, before attending Tafawa Balewa Memorial College, Samaru-Zonkwa, and the School of Basic Studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees in Soil Science, all from Ahmadu Bello University.
His academic career has included appointments at several Nigerian universities, including Ahmadu Bello University, Adamawa State University, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Bowen University and FUOYE.
FROM BOWEN UNIVERSITY TO FUOYE
Before becoming FUOYE Vice-Chancellor, Ogunwole served as Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, from 2018 to 2023.
He later returned to FUOYE as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Strategic Partnerships, Research, Innovation and Linkages before being appointed Vice-Chancellor.
His appointment as FUOYE Vice-Chancellor followed a competitive selection process. Reports at the time said 83 candidates applied, with 30 shortlisted, while Ogunwole emerged at the top of the assessment.
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CAREER
Beyond university administration, Ogunwole has built an international academic profile.
He was a Fulbright Scholar at Pennsylvania State University in the United States between 2009 and 2010 and also held a TWAS Postdoctoral Fellowship in India and an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship at the University of Hannover, Germany.
His academic and research engagements have also taken him to several African and international institutions.
His research interests include soil science, environmental management, carbon sequestration, sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation.
He has published academic works and participated in research and development initiatives involving agriculture, soil and water conservation, irrigation and environmental sustainability.
FROM ACADEMIA TO ELECTORAL DUTY
Ogunwole’s role in the Osun election placed him at the centre of one of the state’s most closely watched political contests.
As the State Returning Officer, his responsibility was to receive the collated results from the state’s 30 local government areas, aggregate the figures and formally declare the candidate who secured the highest number of votes.
INEC’s final declaration confirmed Adeleke’s victory over Oyebamiji, with ADC candidate Najeem Salaam finishing third.
The election therefore ended with Adeleke securing a second term in office, following a competitive contest that involved major political realignments and intense campaigning across the state.
Ogunwole has now returned to his principal responsibility at FUOYE, but his role in the historic 2026 Osun election has placed the university professor prominently in the state’s political history.
Source: INEC results as reported by multiple Nigerian news organisations; FUOYE official profile.
