Osun State Governorship Race Narrows to Three Main Candidates

More than 2.3 million registered voters in Osun State, Nigeria, will vote on August 15, 2026, to elect a governor for a four-year term. While 14 candidates are running, the race has narrowed to a primary contest between incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). All three leading candidates hail from the historically marginalized Osun West senatorial district.

The election is viewed as a proxy battle between high-profile political figures. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola is sponsoring Oyebamiji, while ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola supports Salaam. The APC is leveraging alignment with President Bola Tinubu's federal government and the Renewed Hope Agenda to attract swing voters. A recent opinion poll of 1,850 people showed the APC leading with 48% compared to 45% for the Accord Party.

Tensions have escalated amid reports of political violence and intimidation, leading Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to warn parties against unrest. The contest has been further strained by allegations of federal interference, including the arrest of Accord leaders and a decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to freeze the Osun State Government's accounts shortly before the vote. Although the account freeze was later reversed, the incident has fueled concerns regarding the neutrality of federal institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.