Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Journalist at Weng Global
Osun State civil servants and pensioners have reportedly gathered at the state government secretariat in Abere to celebrate Governor Ademola Adeleke following his re-election victory in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The gathering, captured in a video circulating online, showed workers expressing excitement as they celebrated the outcome of the election and the continuation of Adeleke’s administration.
The development comes after months of political campaigning and growing mobilisation among different groups across Osun State ahead of the governorship poll.
According to reports, workers and pensioners were seen at the secretariat dressed in Accord Party colours, singing, dancing and celebrating the governor’s victory. The gathering reflected the strong political support that sections of the organised labour community had expressed for Adeleke during the election campaign.
Workers and Adeleke’s relationship
Workers’ support for Adeleke did not begin with the 2026 election. Labour unions in Osun had openly endorsed his bid for a second term months before the poll.
In December 2025, the Osun State labour movement, comprising representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), formally endorsed Adeleke for re-election under the Accord platform. Labour leaders cited what they described as improvements in workers’ welfare under his administration.
The endorsement followed several policies and interventions targeted at workers and pensioners.
During the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration, Adeleke highlighted measures including the implementation of a new minimum wage of ₦75,554.28, payment of pension arrears and efforts to address inherited salary obligations.
The governor also said his administration had made progress in paying salaries and pensions regularly and had enrolled pensioners in the Osun Health Insurance Scheme.
According to the state government, more than ₦50 billion in pension arrears and outstanding obligations had been cleared, while significant progress had also been made in settling inherited half-salary liabilities.
These issues became important themes during the election campaign, with the administration presenting its workers’ welfare policies as evidence of its commitment to public servants and retirees.
Labour support before the election
Osun labour leaders repeatedly expressed confidence in Adeleke before the election.
In June 2026, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Osun endorsed the governor for a second term, citing his administration’s interventions in pensioners’ welfare and healthcare.
The state NLC also declared its support for Adeleke and said organised labour would defend its votes through lawful and peaceful means.
The support was part of a wider campaign involving different groups, including traditional security outfits and ethnic associations.
In April, several such groups publicly endorsed Adeleke ahead of the August 15 election, with representatives pledging to mobilise voters for his re-election.
Political significance of the celebration
The workers’ gathering at the secretariat is significant because civil servants constitute an important constituency in state politics.
Public-sector workers interact with government policies daily, particularly in areas such as salaries, promotions, pensions, healthcare, minimum wage and employment conditions.
Consequently, labour’s position became an important component of the political contest between Adeleke and his opponents.
The governor’s administration had also encouraged public servants to participate in the electoral process. In July, Adeleke declared July 28 a work-free day for public servants to enable them to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the election. The directive covered state public servants, local government workers and staff of tertiary institutions, although essential-service personnel were exempted.
The decision highlighted the importance placed on voter participation as the election approached.
A continuation of earlier solidarity
The celebration at the secretariat also follows earlier displays of solidarity between Adeleke and Osun workers.
In August 2025, public servants organised a welcome rally for the governor at the Government Secretariat in Abere after his return from a short vacation.
At that event, labour leaders reaffirmed their support for Adeleke’s administration and his second-term ambition, while praising what they described as his worker-friendly policies.
The latest celebration therefore represents another public expression of the relationship between the governor and sections of the state workforce.
Adeleke faces expectations after victory
While the celebrations mark a political victory for Adeleke, the re-election also comes with renewed expectations from workers and residents.
Workers will expect the administration to sustain timely salary payments, improve working conditions, address outstanding pension obligations and continue reforms within the public service.
The government will also face broader expectations involving infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment and economic development.
Adeleke has previously described workers’ welfare as a central component of his administration’s agenda. At the May 2026 Workers’ Day celebration, he said the government would continue to prioritise workers’ welfare and create an environment where public servants could thrive.
For the workers celebrating at the secretariat, however, the immediate focus was on the election result and what they regarded as the continuation of an administration they had supported.
The scenes from Abere underline how deeply political outcomes can resonate within the public service, particularly when workers perceive an administration’s policies as directly affecting their livelihoods.
As Adeleke begins preparations for his new term, the celebration at the secretariat may serve as both a victory gathering and a reminder of the expectations attached to the support he received from the workforce.
For the governor, maintaining that relationship will likely require translating campaign promises and election victory into continued improvements in workers’ welfare and governance across Osun State.
Sources:
- Osun State Government official website
- Channels Television
- The Guardian Nigeria
- Premium Times
- Western Post
- Tribune Online
- Intel Region
