View source for Ademola Adeleke

{{pp|type=semi}}
{{BaseArticle
 | shortdesc = Nigerian politician
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name               = Ademola Adeleke
| image              = 
| honorific_prefix   = [[His Excellency]]
| alt                = 
| caption            = 
| office             = [[Governor of Osun State]]
| deputy             = [[Kola Adewusi]]
| term_start         = 27 November 2022
| term_end           = 
| predecessor        = [[Gboyega Oyetola]]
| successor          = 
| office1            = [[Senate of Nigeria|Senator]] for [[Osun State|Osun West]]
| term_start1        = 2017
| term_end1          = 2019
| predecessor1       = [[Isiaka Adeleke]]
| successor1         = [[Adelere Adeyemi Oriolowo]]
| birth_name         = Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1960|05|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Enugu State]], Nigeria
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| party              = [[Accord (Nigeria)|Accord]]
| spouse             = Titilola Adeleke
| children           = {{plainlist|
* [[B-Red]]
* [[Adenike Adeleke]]
}}
| parents            = 
| relations          = {{plainlist|
* [[Isiaka Adeleke]] (brother)
* [[Adedeji Adeleke]] (brother)
* [[Davido]] (nephew)
}}
| education              = {{plainlist|
* [[Jacksonville State University]]
* [[Atlanta Metropolitan State College]]
}}
| occupation         = {{hlist|Politician|businessman|administrator|}}
| website            = 
}}

'''Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke''' ({{Pronunciation|Yo-Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Ade.ogg|Listen|(|help=no}}; born 13 May 1960) is a [[Nigerian]] politician and businessman who has been serving as the [[governor of Osun State]] since 2022. He served as the senator representing the Osun-West senatorial district from 2017 to 2019. 

He contested in the [[2022 Osun State gubernatorial election]] under the platform of the [[Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)|Peoples Democratic Party]] and defeated incumbent governor, [[Gboyega Oyetola|Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola]] of the [[All Progressives Congress]], who defeated him in the [[2018 Osun State gubernatorial election|2018 Osun State gubernatorial election rerun]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-17 |title=BREAKING: INEC declares PDP's Adeleke winner of Osun poll |url=https://punchng.com/breaking-inec-declares-pdps-adeleke-winner-of-osun-poll/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |newspaper=[[The Punch]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Adeleke get 17 out of 30 local goment areas to win Osun govnorship election |work=BBC News Pidgin |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-62189734 |access-date=2022-07-17}}</ref>

Adeleke contested in the [[2026 Osun State gubernatorial election]] under the platform of [[Accord (Nigeria)|Accord party]]. On 16 August 2026, he was re-elected the governor of Osun State after defeating All Progressives Congress candidate [[Bola Oyebamiji]] in the governorship election. He was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling 511,067 votes to Oyebamiji's 444,815.<ref name="r877">{{cite web | last1=Ogundapo | first1=Abdulqudus | last2=Suleiman | first2=Mariya Shuaibu | title=UPDATED: #OsunDecides2026: INEC declares Accord's Ademola Adeleke winner of governorship election | website=Premium Times Nigeria | date=2026-08-16 | url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/903305-updated-osundecides2026-inec-declares-accords-ademola-adeleke-winner-of-governorship-election.html | access-date=2026-08-16}}</ref>

== Education ==
Adeleke commenced his primary education at Methodist Primary School, Surulere [[Lagos State]] then relocated to Old Oyo State and attended Nawarudeen Primary School, [[Ikire]]. He progressed to The Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School, Ede also in the then Old Oyo State and later moved to Ede Muslim Grammar School Ede, where he finished his secondary school education before relocating to the United States.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |last1=Agbedo |first1=Onyedika |title=Personality of the Week: Ademola Adeleke |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/personality-of-the-week-senator-ademola-adeleke/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=[[The Sun|The Sun]]|date=23 September 2018 |access-date=27 January 2019}}</ref> As he left Nigeria to continue his studies joining his two other elder brothers in the United States.<ref name="auto"/> He started higher studies at [[Jacksonville State University]], [[Alabama]] in the United States where he majored in criminal justice and with minor in political science.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bada |first1=Gbenga |title=5 quick facts about PDP governorship candidate in Osun |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/ademola-adeleke-5-quick-facts-about-pdp-governorship-candidate-in-osun/xplmr24 |newspaper=[[Pulse Nigeria]]|access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127152532/https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/ademola-adeleke-5-quick-facts-about-pdp-governorship-candidate-in-osun/xplmr24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After much controversies surrounding his educational qualification, he went back to school and got enrolled at [[Atlanta Metropolitan State College]] in the United States, where he earned a [[Bachelor of Science degree]] in criminal justice in 2021.

==Career==

===Private sector===
Adeleke is a businessman and administrator; he served as an executive director of [[Guinness Nigeria]] Plc from 1992 to 1999, where his co-directors included General [[Theophilus Danjuma]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ademola Adeleke's School Certificate Scandal And Other Things To Know About Osun Governor-elect {{!}} Sahara Reporters |url=https://saharareporters.com/2022/07/17/ademola-adelekes-school-certificate-scandal-and-other-things-know-about-osun-governor |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=saharareporters.com}}</ref> he was the group executive director of Pacific Holdings Limited from 2001 to 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-01-19|title=How I built multi-million dollar business in US, Senator Ademola Adeleke|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/01/how-i-built-multi-million-dollar-business-in-us-senator-ademola-adeleke/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2022-02-24|newspaper=[[Vanguard|Vanguard]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Prior to joining Pacific Holdings Limited, Ademola had worked with Quicksilver Courier Company in Atlanta, Georgia, US, as a service contractor in 1985–1989.
He progressed to Origin International LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, US, a flavour and fragrance manufacturing company as vice president from 1990 to 1994.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Admin |title=Personality of the Week: Ademola Adeleke |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/personality-of-the-week-senator-ademola-adeleke/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=[[The Sun|The Sun]]|date=23 September 2018 |access-date=27 January 2019}}</ref>

=== Politics ===
Adeleke is a community member and [[philanthropist]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nass.gov.ng/mp/profile/972|title=Ademola Adeleke|website=Nass.gov.ng}}</ref> He started his political career in 2001 alongside his late brother [[Isiaka Adeleke|Senator Isiaka Adeleke]] who died in April 2017. He contested the Osun west 2017 [[by-election]] after the death of his brother, emerging as the winner under the Peoples Democratic Party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://peoplesdemocraticparty.com.ng/|title=peoplesdemocraticparty.com.ng|website=Peoplesdemocraticparty.com.ng}}</ref>

Adeleke was a member of the All Progressives Congress until he decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party in April 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://peoplesdemocraticparty.com.ng/|title=Peoples Democratic Party|website=Peoplesdemocraticparty.com.ng}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.premiumherald.com/2017/06/13/osun-west-election-isiaka-adelekes-brother-ademola-decamps-pdp/|title=Osun West by-election: Isiaka Adeleke's brother, Ademola decamps to PDP|date=2017-06-13|website=The Premium Herald|access-date=2017-07-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://dailypost.ng/2017/06/14/osun-west-election-isiaka-adelekes-brother-ademola-withdraws-apc-primary-decamps-pdp/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Osun West by-election: Isiaka Adeleke's brother, Ademola withdraws from APC primary, decamps to PDP|date=2017-06-14|newspaper=[[Daily Post|Daily Post]]|access-date=2017-07-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/apc-party-lies-card-carrying-member-not-adeleke/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=APC a party of lies, I was card-carrying member but not again – Adeleke - Vanguard News|date=2017-06-15|access-date=2017-07-12|language=en-US|newspaper=[[Vanguard (Nigeria)|Vanguard]]}}</ref>

On 23 July 2018, Adeleke emerged as the governorship candidate of PDP in Osun State after defeating Akin Ogunbiyi by seven votes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://saharareporters.com/2018/07/21/breaking-%E2%80%98dancing-senator%E2%80%99-ademola-adeleke-emerges-osun-pdp-governorship-candidate%E2%80%A6-7|location=New York City, United States|title=BREAKING: 'Dancing Senator' Ademola Adeleke Emerges Osun PDP Governorship Candidate… By 7 Votes|date=2018-07-21|access-date=2018-07-23|language=en-US|newspaper=[[Sahara Reporters]]}}</ref>

In 2025, He won the Nigerian Icon of Good Governance (NIGG) Award by the [[Nigerian Books of Record]] (NBR) and also earned a place in the revered [[NBR Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/2025/08/29/gov-adeleke-bagged-icon-of-good-governance-award-from-nigerian-books-of-record/|title=Gov Adeleke bagged icon of good governance award from nigerian books of record|date=2025-05-15|access-date=2025-11-12|language=en-US|newspaper=[[This Day]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/news/adeleke-bags-good-governance-award-inducted-into-nbr-hall-of-fame/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Adeleke bags good governance award inducted into nbr hall of fame|date=2025-05-15|access-date=2025-11-12|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Guardian|The Guardian]]}}</ref> In December 2025, Adeleke announced that he was decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oyelakin |first=Saheed |date=2025-12-11 |title=I love PDP but defected to protect myself – Adeleke |url=https://punchng.com/i-love-pdp-but-defected-to-protect-myself-adeleke/ |access-date=2025-12-31 |newspaper=[[The Punch]]|language=en-US}}</ref> following the announcement several days later he announced he has joined [[Accord (Nigeria)|Accord party]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abdulkadiri |first=Faridah |date=2025-12-09 |title=Osun Governor Adeleke Joins Accord Party After Leaving PDP |url=https://www.arise.tv/osun-governor-adeleke-joins-accord-party-after-leaving-pdp/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Certificate scandal==
Adeleke was  accused and charged to the Osogbo high court for forging his secondary school testimonial and [[West African Examinations Council|WAEC]] result to cancel his governorship candidacy. The testimonial Adeleke submitted to INEC dated 20 July 1988, as its Heading Ede Muslim Grammar School, [[Osun State]], as at that year Osun state was not in existence. Also the SSCE results indicated in the testimonial shows that the mode of examination wasn't existing in the year 1981<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://punchng.com/adeleke-presented-forged-school-testimonials-to-inec-plaintiffs-tell-court/|title=Adeleke presented forged school testimonials to INEC, plaintiffs tell court|newspaper=[[The Punch]]|date=6 August 2018 |access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref>
Another testimonial with the Heading Ede Muslim High school dated 2018, indicates that the principal which signed the 1988 testimonial also signed the 2018 testimonial,<ref name="auto1"/> this led to the arrest of the principal by the police.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/adeleke-faults-arrest-of-school-principal-over-his-testimonial-264290.html|title=Adeleke faults arrest of school principal over his testimonial|first1=Hameed|last1=Oyegbade|last2=Osogbo|date=5 August 2018|newspaper=[[Daily Trust]]|access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref> Adeleke's lawyer in his defense claims his secondary school hasn't come out to deny his testimonial asking the court to dismiss the Case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://punchng.com/osun-2018-adeleke-to-know-fate-over-certificate-suit-on-wednesday/|title=Osun 2018: Adeleke to know fate over certificate suit on Wednesday|newspaper=[[The Punch]]|date=6 August 2018 |access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref> The court dismissed the suit stating that the plaintiff could not prove Adeleke's forgery.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://punchng.com/breaking-court-refuses-to-stop-adeleke-as-osun-pdp-gov-candidate/|title=Court refuses to stop Adeleke as Osun PDP gov candidate|newspaper=[[The Punch]]|date=8 August 2018 |access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref> Witnesses told the court that they didn't see Adeleke in the examination hall. One of the witnesses said he would have recognised him since he is a public figure.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Television |first1=Oak |title=Certificate Scandal: We didn't see Ademola Adeleke in exam hall, witnesses tell court |url=https://oak.tv/certificate-scandal/ |access-date=9 April 2019 |work=OAK TV |date=4 April 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Governorship race ==
Adeleke ran for Osun state governorship election<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/osun-guber-race-how-the-candidates-stand/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Osun guber race: How the candidates stand|first=Urowayino|last=Warami|date=22 September 2018|access-date=1 April 2019|newspaper=[[Vanguard|Vanguard]]}}</ref> under the PDP against top contenders Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of APC and [[Iyiola Omisore]] of SDP on 22 September 2018. The election was declared inconclusive<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://punchng.com/inec-reveals-why-osun-gov-election-is-inconclusive/|title=INEC reveals why Osun gov election is inconclusive|newspaper=[[The Punch]]|date=23 September 2018 |access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref> by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and a rerun slated on 27 September 2018. The candidate of the APC, Oyetola, was declared winner after the run-off. Adeleke protested the result describing the election as a "coup".

On 22 March 2019, the tribunal sitting in Abuja declared Adeleke the winner of the election.

The Supreme Court later affirmed [[Gboyega Oyetola]] as the authentic winner of the 2018 Osun State governorship election on Friday, 5 July 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-07-05|title=Oyetola beats Adeleke at Supreme Court to remain Osun Governor|url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/oyetola-beats-adeleke-at-supreme-court-to-remain-osun-governor/7xejpce|access-date=2021-09-08|newspaper=[[Pulse Nigeria]]|language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, Adeleke contested in the [[2022 Osun State gubernatorial election|gubernatorial election]] of 16 July under the PDP against incumbent governor Gboyega Oyetola. Adeleke defeated [[Gboyega Oyetola]] with 402,979 votes to 375,077 votes. Adeleke won in 17 local government areas, including Olorunda, [[Ede South]], Orolu, [[Osogbo]], Odo Otin, Ifelodun, Boluwaduro, Atakumosa, and Ila.<ref name="n367">{{cite web | last=Omotere | first=Samuel | title=THROWBACK: How Adeleke lost Osun by 482 votes in 2018, won in 2022 | website=Punch Newspapers | date=2026-08-14 | url=https://punchng.com/throwback-how-adeleke-lost-osun-by-482-votes-in-2018-won-in-2022/ | access-date=2026-08-16}}</ref>

In 2026, Adeleke contested in the [[2026 Osun State gubernatorial election]] as the candidate of the [[Accord (Nigeria)|Accord Party]]. The election was held on 15 August 2026, with Adeleke seeking re-election as governor.<ref name="r713">{{cite web | title=Ademola Adeleke defeats APC's Oyebamiji to win Osun governorship election | website=TheCable | date=2026-08-16 | url=https://www.thecable.ng/ademola-adeleke-wins-osun-governorship/ | access-date=2026-08-16}}</ref> 

On 16 August 2026, he was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after securing 511,067 votes. His closest challenger, All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, received 444,815 votes.<ref name="a934">{{cite web | title=Ademola Adeleke win Osun State election: Osun election result see Davido uncle Ademola Adeleke win Oyebamiji of APC | publisher=BBC News Pidgin | date=2026-08-16 | url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/cjwxxvvn8z4o | access-date=2026-08-16}}</ref> Adeleke won in 19 of the state's 30 local government area.<ref name="i992">{{cite web | last=Sulaimon | first=Adekunle | title=FULL LIST: 19 Osun LGs where Adeleke recorded highest votes | website=Punch Newspapers | date=2026-08-16 | url=https://punchng.com/full-list-19-osun-lgas-where-adeleke-recorded-highest-votes/ | access-date=2026-08-16}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Adeleke is the husband of Titilola Adeleke, [[Erelu Abeni Adeleke]] and the father of eight children, including [[B-Red]] and [[Adenike Adeleke]]. He is also an uncle to musician, [[Davido]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Inyang |first=Ifreke |date=2017-07-11 |title=Davido's uncle, Ademola Adeleke dances to his victory in Osun West by-election [VIDEO] |url=https://dailypost.ng/2017/07/11/davidos-uncle-ademola-adeleke-dances-victory-osun-west-election-video/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2022-06-20 |newspaper=[[Daily Post|Daily Post]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-16 |title=Davido battles odds to support uncle's gov ambition |url=https://punchng.com/davido-battles-odds-to-support-uncles-gov-ambition/ |access-date=2022-07-16 |newspaper=[[The Punch]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-19 |title=Meet Adenike Adeleke The Cousin of Davido (Pictures and Biography) |url=https://paperng.com/2024/07/meet-adenike-adeleke-the-cousin-of-davido.html |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Paper Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Nigerian Senators of the 8th National Assembly}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adeleke, Ademola}}
[[Category:Senators of the 8th National Assembly (Nigeria)]]
[[Category:Yoruba politicians]]
[[Category:People from Osun State]]
[[Category:Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria) politicians]]
[[Category: Politicians from Osun State]]
[[Category:Nigerian Muslims]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nigerian political candidates]]
[[Category:Adeleke family]]
[[Category:1960 births]]