Politics
The Top Three Gladiators Locking Horns For Osun Governorship
The candidates will battle for the votes of 2,339, 233 residents registered to participate in the election.
Photo: A collage of Adeleke, Oyebamiji, and Salaam
Tomorrow – Saturday, August 15, is the D-Day for the Osun governorship election.
Of the 15 political parties and their candidates listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the governorship polls, the much talked about contenders are the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord party.
Others are Najeem Salaam (African Democratic Congress, ADC), and Bola Oyebamiji (All Progressives Congress, APC).
The candidates will battle for the votes of 2,339, 233 residents registered to participate in the election.
Here’s a short background of each of the candidates:
ADELEKE (ACCORD)
Apart from being the incumbent governor, he also enjoyed acceptability among the majority of civil servants and the leadership of the labour unions; the NLC, TUC and JNC are all on his side and appearing in the Accord party campaign soliciting support for the governor.
The Governor is also banking on his achievements in the area of infrastructure across the three senatorial districts, which has been driving his campaigns so far.
BOLAJI OYEBAMIJI (APC)
The APC candidate is believed to enjoy the support of President Bola Tinubu and the APC governors, who will stop at nothing to ensure victory for the party at the polls.
The APC candidate’s personality and philanthropy has endeared him to the people.
Apart from being endorsed by the President, Oyebamiji’s election bid receive a major boost with the defection of all the federal lawmakers from Osun-East senatorial district, who are also major political gladiators from the towns.
They include Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Mr Wole Oke (Ijesa-North federal constituency), Sanya Omirin (Ijesa-South federal constituency) and Mr Taofeek Ajilesoro (Ife federal constituency).
NAJEEM SALAAM (ADC)
Since unveiling his 10 point agenda, anchored on workers’ welfare and sustainable electricity for the industrialisation of the state, Salaam, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, has continuously been engaging with the electorate on the need to abandon the traditional political parties.
Salaam’s advantage is Aregbesola’s grassroots appeal when he was governor in the state and the candidate’s humble nature that attracts him to a section of supporters across the state, especially from Osun-West Senatorial District where he hails from .
Many grassroots politicians, who left the APC along with Aregbesola, are with Salaam, which is helping to bolster his governorship ambition.
Politics
HAPPENING NOW: Security Beefed up at INEC Office in Osun Ahead of Saturday’s Governorship Election
Security has been significantly intensified at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office along Gbongan-Ibadan Road in Osogbo as Osun State prepares for the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, 15 August 2026.
Large numbers of security personnel, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force, have been sighted on the premises. Preparations for their deployment across the state’s 30 local government areas are ongoing.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun, Oluwatoyin Babalola, is meeting with National Commissioners and supporting Resident Electoral Commissioners from other states to finalise arrangements for the poll.
Election stakeholders, including representatives of civil society organisations, journalists and observers, are also present at the INEC office.
The election will take place across 3,763 polling units in 332 wards.
Politics
Osun governorship election will be transparent, says INEC
The election will hold in 332 wards spread across 30 local government areas
• INEC ballot papers
INEC has reassured political parties, civil society organisations, media and the good people of Osun State of its total readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive election.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna , gave the assurance , yesterday, disclosing that the ballot papers and result sheets have arrived in Osogbo, the state capital.
They were sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office, from where they will be distributed to other parts of the state.
The ballot papers and result sheets were reprinted following a court judgment which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put the name of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot.
With this addition, 15 candidates are now in the race.
The election will hold in 332 wards spread across 30 local government areas, “ he said.
Politics
Osun Election: President Tinubu mobilises Voters “Go Out to Vote Candidate of Your Choice on Saturday Without Fear
As part of efforts to ensure security during the Osun State election, Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, announced the prohibition of state government-established security outfits, quasi-security groups, and private security organisations from participating in election-security duties.
• Osun governorship candidates
President Bola Tinubu has call out to the people of the state to go out on Saturday and vote the candidates of their choice without fear of molestation by political thugs.
President Tinubu also enjoined all political stakeholders to desist from violence, intimidation, and harassment, and embrace peace before, during, and after the governorship election.
The president spoke through the Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the grand finale of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign.
Akpabio assured that the government had put in place enough security measures to ensure free, fair, and credible election tomorrow.
“Let me assure all Osun indigenes that adequate security have been provided all over the state to ensure people come out to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without any fear or intimidation,” he said.
Recall that as part of efforts to ensure security during the Osun State election, Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, announced the prohibition of state government-established security outfits, quasi-security groups, and private security organisations from participating in election-security duties.
HAPPENING NOW: Security Beefed up at INEC Office in Osun Ahead of Saturday’s Governorship Election
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