By RismadarVoice Media
January 2, 2026
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious in the August 8, 2026 governorship election, citing popular support as the basis for his optimism.
His main challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, appealed to voters to support his ambition, promising a people-centred administration that would ensure the effective functioning of all sectors of the state’s economy if elected.
Both leaders made their positions known in separate New Year messages in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Thursday.
The 2026 governorship race will feature the incumbent governor, Adeleke, seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party; Oyebamiji, the APC candidate; and a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Dr Najeem Salaam, contesting on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke described 2026 as “an era of victory and prosperity,” urging citizens to engage in electoral vigilance and activism.
He described 2025 as a challenging year, due to what he called externally induced constraints, however expressed optimism that 2026 would usher in liberation from obstacles hindering good governance, democratic dividends in Osun.
He warned against attempts to undermine voters’ rights, insisting that those seeking power through hardship imposed on the people would be rejected at the polls.
In his own New Year message, Oyebamiji called on Osun residents to look forward to what he described as a “mass-focused and people-centred progressive government” under his leadership.
He commended the resilience and patriotism of the people of Osun, promised to prioritize their welfare if elected governor.
“As we walk into the year of manifestation, let’s continue to champion love, unity, sacrifice, resilience, and peaceful coexistence,” Oyebamiji said, urging citizens to demonstrate the Omoluabi ethos as the election season approaches.
The APC candidate also pledged support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and vowed to lead his party to victory on August 8, 2026.
Similarly, the ADC governorship candidate, Dr Najeem Salaam, in his New Year message, praised the resilience and faith of Osun residents amid prevailing socio-economic challenges and urged them to remain hopeful.
