THIRTEEN candidates, including the incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party; the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salam, are vying for the Osun State governorship seat in an election scheduled for this Saturday, August 15.
The poll, which has increasingly taken the shape of a three-way contest, will see the three leading candidates and their respective parties slugging it out, while other contenders will also seek to prove their mettle in the race.
The exercise will be held across the state’s 30 local government areas, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listing 2,339,233 registered voters for the poll and deploying 5,130 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices.
INEC had cleared 14 candidates for the election, but the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Adeyemi-Doro Adesina, withdrew from the exercise and threw his weight behind the APC.
The election is the second off-cycle governorship election in the South-West this year after Ekiti’s which took place on June 18.
Data by the electoral commission noted that about 16,374 ad hoc personnel are expected to participate in the exercise, while thousands of security personnel are to be deployed across the state.
Although the other 10 candidates could affect the distribution of votes, the election has increasingly revolved around Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salam.
Adeleke seeks second term
Adeleke is seeking to retain the seat he won in 2022 after defeating the then-incumbent governor, Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC, who is now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
The victory reversed the outcome of the 2018 election, when Oyetola defeated Adeleke by only 482 votes after INEC declared the initial poll inconclusive.
Four years later, Adeleke won 403,371 votes against Oyetola’s 375,027, according to INEC’s result.
Now seeking another term, Adeleke has built his campaign around what his administration describes as achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture and workers’ welfare.
When he emerged as Accord Party’s candidate in December 2025, Adeleke unveiled an updated five-point agenda covering citizens and workers’ welfare, infrastructure, agro-industrial development, health and education, and the business environment.
But the governor is entering the election under considerable pressure. His administration has been involved in prolonged disputes with the APCÂ over the control of local governments, while his government and some other opposition parties have also traded words over political violence and the activities of security agencies. Adeleke is from Ede.
APC’s attempt to return to powerÂ
Oyebamiji is the APC’s candidate in the forthcoming election. He served as Osun commissioner for finance under former governor Rauf Aregbesola and later under Oyetola.
He subsequently became managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority before resigning in 2025 to pursue the governorship.
For the APC, the election is an opportunity to reclaim a state it lost to Adeleke in 2022 and also win it for President Bola Tinubu who is seeking re-election on the APC platform. The party’s national influence also gives the contest a wider political dimension.
The candidate is from Ikire in Irewole Local Government of Osun State.
Salam banks on Aregbesola, other ADC members backing
Salam is the third major name in the contest. The ADC candidate is a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and represented Ejigbo Constituency in the legislature.
He served as Speaker between 2011 and 2015 and returned to the Assembly in 2017.
His political experience gives the ADC a candidate with a longstanding presence in Osun politics.
More importantly, his candidacy provides an alternative for voters who are dissatisfied with both Adeleke and the APC.
Olanrewaju Farinloye – Action Alliance
Olanrewaju Farinloye, 40, is the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA).
According to the candidate information published by INEC , Farinloye has GCSE and CCECS academic qualifications. His running mate is Fadahunsi Olaniyi, 67.
Olajide Esan – African Action Congress
Olajide Esan, 39, is contesting on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC).
He holds First School Leaving Certificate, Senior Secondary School Certificate and a Bachelor of Science degree. His running mate is Bello Muideen Yekeen, 51.
Yemisi Adeagbo Opawoye – African Democratic Party
Yemisi Adeagbo Opawoye, 84, is the only female governorship candidate in the race. She is contesting under the African Democratic Party (ADP) and holds a Bachelor of Education degree.
She is paired with Atanda Eniola Babatunde, 43.
Her candidacy also makes her the oldest of the 14 candidates cleared for the election.
Adewale Adebayo – Allied Peoples Movement
Adewale Adebayo is the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
He has secured the endorsement of the Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Clement Adesuyi – Action Peoples Party
Clement Adesuyi is contesting the governorship election on the platform of the Action Peoples Party (APP). He is one of the candidates outside the leading political camps in the race.
He emerged as the governorship candidate of his party in December 2025. His manifesto, he said, focuses on transforming the state through increased investment in youth empowerment, healthcare, education and infrastructure.
Masilo Adeleke – Boot Party
Masilo Adeleke is the governorship candidate of the Boot Party. Adeleke contested in 2023 for the senatorial election but lost.
Masilo, in his campaign promises, pledged to change the face of Osun State economically and infrastructurally.
He noted that his government would be modelled in line with late chief Bola Ige administration in 1979 to 1983.
Taofeek Adeleke – New Nigeria Peoples Party
Taofeek Adeleke is the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). He said his administration would seek to improve residents’ living standards across the state by prioritising education, healthcare, security and infrastructure.
Saliu Oyelami – Peoples Redemption Party
Saliu Oyelami is contesting under the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). In July, Oyelami boasted he would win the poll, saying the incumbent Ademola Adeleke would be among the first to congratulate him after the election
Olalekan Ogunsakin – Young Progressives Party
Olalekan Ogunsakin is the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP). He is among the candidates from smaller parties seeking to compete for the state’s top political office.
Adefemi Adesuyi – Zenith Labour Party
Adefemi Adesuyi is the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). During his campaign, he said he was targeting over 800,000 incorruptible voters to secure victory.
Adeyemi-Doro Adesina – All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate withdraws, backs APCÂ
Meanwhile, Adeyemi-Doro Adesina, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the election had on Saturday, August 8, said he had withdrawn from the race and endorsed the APC candidate.
Giving the reasons for his withdrawal during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, August 10, he said his decision was based on what he considered to be the best interest of the state and its people.
The APGA candidate said his involvement in politics was driven by a desire to serve rather than to pursue personal ambition or political office.
This story is republished from The ICIR
 candidate, Bola Oyebamiji; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salam, are vying for the Osun State governorship seat in an election scheduled for this Saturday, August 15.){kind=link}