Osun Governorship Race heats up as Adeleke, Oyebamiji, and Salaam emerge amid party disputes ahead of 2026 off-cycle election
The 2026 off-cycle governorship election in Osun State is shaping up as a highly competitive contest, with three major contenders emerging ahead of the poll.
Also read:Â APC to announce Osun governorship screening results
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress have all secured their party nominations, political sources confirmed on Friday in Osogbo.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been mired in internal crises, effectively demoting it from a ruling party in the state to an opposition role. Governor Adeleke’s initial attempt to defect to the APC was rebuffed after party members argued he bypassed proper channels and undermined state leadership, including Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Gboyega Oyetola.
Following the failed defection, Adeleke remained in the PDP briefly before moving to Accord, where he emerged as the sole candidate, securing 145 out of 150 delegate votes at a primary election in Osogbo.
The Accord screening committee cleared him as the only candidate, allowing delegates to exercise their franchise formally.
In the APC, the party faces internal tension over aspirants for its ticket. Out of thirteen initial candidates, only eight purchased nomination forms, and six were later disqualified for procedural irregularities.
President Bola Tinubu met with the aspirants to resolve disputes ahead of the scheduled primary on Saturday. Bola Oyebamiji is widely expected to emerge as the APC’s consensus candidate, reportedly favoured by Oyetola.
The ADC, under former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, also contends with internal friction. Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, a prominent grassroots politician and former Secretary to the State Government, resigned after Najeem Salaam, ex-Speaker of the State Assembly, was adopted as the party’s candidate. Despite the setback, Salaam remains ADC’s standard-bearer.
Political analysts suggest that the PDP may play a spoiler role in the poll, potentially splitting votes for Adeleke, while the ADC could siphon support from the APC.
Also read:Â APC to Review Osun Governorship Appeals Ahead of Primary
With party primaries concluding and candidates now confirmed, the Osun governorship race is set to be a closely watched contest as stakeholders monitor alliances and electoral strategies.
