The road to Saturday, August 15, 2026 is becoming busier and busier in Osun State.
With the governorship election drawing near, 14 political parties have presented candidates, all aspiring to get the mandate to lead the State of the Living Spring.
In the crowded field, three names stand out for political strength, presence and popularity: incumbent governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Najeem Salam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Government.
For the three contenders, the campaign route has now become a trek across the 30 local government areas of Osun as they all attempt to woo voters ahead of the August 15 contest.
Adeleke: Incumbent running for second term
For Ademola Adeleke, it is about defending the mandate he secured four years ago and getting another four-year term from Osun voters.
Before his foray into politics, the Accord Party candidate was a businessman and corporate administrator in Nigeria and the United States of America. Africans and Diaspora.
The first shot at the governorship by the Ede indigene was in 2018 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he lost the race to the APC candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Adeleke, however, was back after four years. In 2022, he defeated the then-incumbent governor, Oyetola, and was inaugurated in on November 27 that year.
Before deciding to run for governor, he had already started his political career. In July 2017, Adeleke was elected senator to represent the Osun West Senatorial District to succeed his late elder brother, Adetunji Adeleke, who died in office.
“Imole” as he is known in political circles, is now counting on what he calls his successes in infrastructure, health, agriculture and other sectors in the last three years as he seeks a second term.
Oyebamiji: Banker, ex-Commissioner
Across the political divide is Bola Oyebamaji, the APC candidate, a veteran banker and financial specialist.
Oyebamiji was commissioner for finance in Osun State during the second term of former governor Rauf Aregbesola and the tenure of Adeleke’s predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola from 2017 to 2022. Government
He is popularly known as “AMBO” (acronym of his full name, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamaji) and hails from Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun West Senatorial District.
His experience in the public sector was not confined to the state government. Oyebamiji, who was the managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) before leaving in November 2025 to contest governorship.
Now, he is taking that expertise on the campaign trail seeking the votes that could carry him to the Osun Government House.
Salam: A Face We Recognise Back
Then there is Najeem Salam, the ADC candidate, another heavyweight in the battle.
Salam is a native of Ejigbo in Ejigbo Local Government Area but is popularly known as “Iwaloye” among his political companions and fans. He earned a PhD in political science.
He began his political career in 2007 when he was elected to represent Ejigbo Constituency in Osun State House of Assembly.
But in 2009 the Court of Appeal overturned that victory because his party’s logo had not been printed on the ballot paper. Courts & Judicial System
Salam did not remain down long. He returned to politics in 2011 and won the House of Assembly seat and became Speaker in June that year.
He served as Speaker from 2011 to 2015 and was re-elected in 2017, serving in the Assembly until 2019.
Now he’s back on the ballot, this time in the race for the state’s highest political position.
A battlefield of soldiers
There are 11 additional candidates beyond the three front-runners for the governorship.
Olanrewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance; Olajide Esan of the African Action Congress; Adeagbo Opawoye of the African Democratic Party; Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives’ Grand Alliance; Adewale Adebayo of the Allied Peoples Movement; Clement Adesuyi of the Action Peoples Party; Masilo Adeleke of the Boot Party; Taofeek Adeleke of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Saliu Oyelami of the Peoples Redemption Party; Olalekan Ogunsakin of the Young Progressives Party; and Adefemi Adesuyi of the Zenith Labour Party. Africans& Diaspora
One of them is 84-year-old Yemisi Adeagbo of the African Democratic Party, a retired school principal and the only woman contender in the election.
The people of Osun State are drawing nearer and nearer to one defining day.
On Saturday, August 15, the electorate will determine who will be at the helm of the State of the Living Spring as the campaigns, promises and political calculations give way to the ballot.
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