RismadarVoice Reporters, August 13, 2026
13 candidates are set to contest the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026, with the race featuring the incumbent governor, former public officials, technocrats and younger political contenders.
The major contest is expected to centre on Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam.
ADEMOLA ADELEKE – ACCORD PARTY:
The incumbent governor is seeking another term after winning the 2022 election on the Peoples Democratic Party platform. He later defected to the Accord Party and is campaigning on his administration’s record in office.
BOLA OYEBAMIJI – APC:
Oyebamiji, a former Osun Commissioner for Finance and former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, is presenting himself as an experienced administrator. His campaign focuses on agriculture, education, healthcare, poverty reduction and human capital development.
NAJEEM SALAAM – ADC:
The former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and political science scholar is seeking to return to the centre of state politics. He has promised a people-oriented administration and says he intends to build on previous achievements while addressing governance gaps.
Other candidates include Olanrewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance, Olajide Esan of the African Action Congress, Adeagbo Opawoye of the African Democratic Party, Adeleke Masilo of the Boot Party, Adewale Adebayo of the Allied Peoples Movement, Clement Adesuyi of the Action Peoples Party, Taofeek Adeleke of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Olalekan Ogunsakin of the Young Progressives Party, Adefemi Adesuyi of the Zenith Labour Party, and Saliu Oyelami of the Peoples Redemption Party.
The candidates are campaigning on different platforms, including improved infrastructure, healthcare, education, employment, transparency, accountability, economic development and greater citizen participation in governance.
With the election approaching, voters are expected to decide whether to retain the incumbent administration or hand the state’s leadership to one of the opposition candidates.
