Ademola Adeleke faces a tougher fight in Osun 2026 as APC’s Bola Oyebamiji and ADC’s Najeem Salaam mount strong challenges ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
OSOGBO, OSUN STATE — Ademola Adeleke faces a difficult battle to secure a second term as governor as Osun 2026 enters its final days, with APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salaam emerging as his strongest challengers ahead of the August 15 governorship election. Fourteen candidates will appear on the ballot, but the contest has increasingly centred on the three leading contenders.
The election comes with more than 2.3 million registered voters and will determine whether Adeleke becomes only the second governor in Osun’s history to win a second term. INEC’s certified register contains 2,339,233 eligible voters, while the commission has prepared 3,763 polling units across the state’s 30 local government areas and the Modakeke Area Office.
Adeleke enters the contest as the incumbent and is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party in December 2025. His campaign has pointed to infrastructure projects, urban renewal and human capital programmes as evidence of his performance, while his supporters argue that his strong relationships with civil servants, artisans and trade groups give him an advantage at the grassroots.
The governor, however, faces criticism over claims that his administration has concentrated some development projects around his hometown of Ede. Political opponents have also seized on the defection of prominent PDP figures who previously helped him secure victory in 2022. The latest blow came from former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who backed Oyebamiji despite remaining a PDP member, saying Osun needed a different direction.
Oyinlola’s endorsement has added weight to Oyebamiji’s campaign in the closing days. The former governor, alongside former Secretary to the State Government Fatai Akinbade and former PDP South-West National Vice Chairman Tajudeen Oladipo, said the group had become dissatisfied with what it described as a lack of inclusiveness in Adeleke’s administration. Oyinlola said political loyalty should not override what he considered the wider interest of Osun residents.
Oyebamiji is also benefiting from the established APC structure and his experience in public administration. The former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority previously served as Osun Commissioner for Finance for about five years under the administrations of Rauf Aregbesola and Adegboyega Oyetola. His supporters have presented his public-finance experience as a major strength as they campaign on economic development, wealth creation and improved public services.
The APC candidate, however, faces his own test. Osun 2026 marks his first attempt at elective office, and his opponents have questioned whether his administrative experience will translate into enough grassroots votes. His campaign has responded by pointing to the party’s structure, support from different interest groups and endorsements from politicians who previously operated within other political camps.
Salaam has also refused to be pushed aside in the three-way contest. The ADC candidate is a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and has built a long political career in the state. His supporters are banking on his political network, particularly around Ejigbo, while the influence of former governor Rauf Aregbesola could further strengthen his campaign in some voting areas.
The presence of Salaam could have an important effect on Adeleke’s re-election effort because both men come from Osun West. Political observers have pointed to Ejigbo’s sizeable voting population within Ede Federal Constituency as one factor that could influence the distribution of votes in the area. At the same time, Oyebamiji’s Ikire connection could produce strong support, although Adeleke’s campaign has a senior figure from the same town leading its campaign structure.
Campaign activity has also taken place against concerns over security and the conduct of the election. The 14 candidates signed a peace accord on July 30, with the National Peace Committee urging political actors to reject violence. INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan warned that anyone who attempts to disrupt the poll or engage in vote buying will face the law. The commission also said it had moved towards proactive security monitoring across the state.
The candidates have therefore entered the final stretch with very different selling points. Adeleke is asking voters to reward his administration with another term, Oyebamiji is presenting himself as an alternative with experience in public finance and APC structure behind him, while Salaam is seeking to turn his political record and ADC platform into a winning coalition. Current reporting suggests none of the three has established an unquestionable lead.
Newstridez’s review of the candidates’ campaigns, endorsements and available electoral data shows why the race remains difficult to call. Adeleke has the advantage of incumbency and a record to defend, while Oyebamiji has gained fresh momentum from opposition figures such as Oyinlola and former deputy governor Iyiola Omisore. Salaam, meanwhile, remains a factor that could alter the balance between the two leading camps.
For voters across Osun, the immediate concern is whether the election will produce continuity or a change of government. Security, turnout, the strength of party structures and the ability of the three major campaigns to convert rallies and endorsements into votes could shape the result. With election day only days away, the political calculations are giving way to the final test at the polling units.
As Osun 2026 approaches August 15, Adeleke must defend his record while confronting a stronger opposition challenge than he might have expected when the race began. Oyebamiji has gained momentum from recent endorsements, while Salaam remains a credible third force. The final outcome will depend not on campaign crowds or political endorsements, but on the votes Osun residents cast and the ability of INEC and security agencies to protect the process.
