the months leading up to the election, political realignments, prolonged legal battles, local government disputes, defections, allegations of political violence, and an increasingly competitive struggle for control of the state have characterized the contest.
The election is the latest chapter in a political contest that began with the 2022 governorship poll, when Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, defeated the incumbent governor, Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by 403,371 votes to 375,027, according to figures announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Four years later, the political landscape has changed substantially.
Governor Adeleke, who won the 2022 election on the PDP platform, is seeking a second term under the Accord Party, while Oyetola, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has stepped aside from the governorship contest and backed the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, is also contesting under the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
These are the three frontline contenders for the governorship position.
The 2022 election and the battle in court
The 2022 election did not end with INEC’s declaration of Adeleke as governor-elect. Oyetola challenged the result, alleging over-voting and other irregularities.
Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, in January 2023, overturned Adeleke’s victory in a split decision and declared Oyetola the winner. Adeleke rejected the judgment and immediately announced that he would challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
“I call on our people to remain calm. We will appeal the judgment and we are sure justice will be done,” Adeleke said at the time, insisting that he remained the rightful winner of the election.
The Court of Appeal later reversed the tribunal’s decision and restored Adeleke’s victory. Oyetola subsequently took the matter to the Supreme Court, extending a legal battle that had already consumed several months.
On May 9, 2023, the Supreme Court affirmed Adeleke’s victory, effectively bringing the 2022 election dispute to an end.
The apex court held that Oyetola and the APC had failed to establish the allegation of over-voting sufficiently to overturn the election result.
The judicial outcome left Adeleke in office, but it also preserved a formidable APC political structure around Oyetola and his allies. When President Bola Tinubu subsequently appointed Oyetola Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the former Osun governor moved from the state political arena into the Federal Executive Council.
His federal position became politically significant to Osun’s 2026 contest.
Under Oyetola’s ministerial portfolio, former Osun Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji was appointed Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in October 2023. The Federal Government described the appointment as one made on the recommendation of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
Oyebamiji would later become the APC 2026 governorship candidate, creating a direct political link between the former governor’s federal influence and the party’s new governorship campaign.
The local government crisis
If the 2022 election created the first major legal battle between Adeleke and Oyetola, the 2025 local government election deepened the institutional and political confrontation.
The dispute originated from the controversy surrounding the local government election conducted in October 2022. A Federal High Court judgment had nullified that election, while subsequent appellate proceedings became the subject of competing interpretations by the APC and the PDP.
By February 2025, the disagreement had reached another critical point. The APC maintained that its previously elected council officials had been restored by a Court of Appeal decision and should return to their offices.
The PDP-controlled state government disagreed, arguing that the earlier election had been nullified and that there were vacancies across the state’s 30 local government areas.
On February 21, 2025, an Osun State High Court ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission to proceed with the local government election scheduled for the following day. The court also directed security agencies to provide adequate security for the exercise.
The APC subsequently announced its withdrawal from the election, arguing that the Court of Appeal judgment meant the local government seats were no longer vacant. The party said its officials had resumed office and considered the planned election unnecessary and unlawful.
The election eventually took place on February 22.
The PDP won all the chairmanship and councillorship seats, according to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC.
But the election did not resolve the dispute. Instead, it created a parallel governance structure, in which the newly elected PDP council officials and the previously elected APC officials continued to claim legitimacy.
Before the poll, violence had already become a major concern. In Ilesa, PDP and APC supporters reportedly clashed during campaign activities, with dangerous weapons, including machetes and axes, displayed during the confrontation.
The violence and legal uncertainty produced an unusual post-election situation. Adeleke swore in the newly elected council chairmen and councillors on February 23 but instructed them not to immediately occupy the council secretariats.
“Please stay away from the council secretariats to prevent any clashes,” Adeleke told the newly inaugurated officials, urging them to allow the legal process to determine the next step.
That instruction became one of the defining moments of the local government crisis.
Rather than settling the dispute, the confrontation continued through court proceedings, political protests and competing claims over who controlled the councils.
In January 2026, Adeleke again described the APC officials occupying the council secretariats as having been removed by court decisions, while maintaining that the February 2025 election produced the lawful local government leadership in the state.
The local government crisis subsequently became intertwined with the 2026 governorship election, with both APC and Accord accusing each other of using the dispute as part of a broader political strategy.
Defections reshape Osun’s political map
The political realignment did not stop at the local government level.
Two Osun senators, Francis Fadahunsi and Olubiyi Fadeyi, defected from the PDP to the APC in July 2025. At the time, an aide to Adeleke described the move as a political miscalculation.
The more consequential movement, however, came from Adeleke himself.
After years of operating under the PDP, Adeleke resigned from the party and joined the Accord Party in December 2025, declaring his intention to seek another term as governor.
His defection was followed by another major movement in February 2026, when 25 members of the Osun State House of Assembly elected on the PDP platform defected to Accord. The lawmakers said their decision followed their parliamentary meeting and their desire to align with the governor.
The defections significantly altered the structure of the 2026 contest.
The governor was no longer seeking re-election as the candidate of the party that brought him to office in 2022. Instead, he was taking the incumbent’s political structure into a different party, while the APC sought to consolidate opposition forces around its own candidate.
APC settles on Bola Oyebamiji
APC’s own journey to selecting a candidate was marked by intense negotiations.
Eight governorship aspirants met President Bola Tinubu at the State House in December 2025 and agreed to support a consensus candidate. The aspirants included Benedict Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke, Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Bola Oyebamiji.
The agreement was intended to prevent a repeat of the internal divisions that had affected APC’s 2022 campaign.
Oyebamiji eventually emerged as the party’s candidate through affirmation at the APC primary in Osogbo.
A total of 1,660 delegates from the state’s 332 wards participated in the exercise, with the delegates affirming Oyebamiji as the party’s flagbearer.
Oyebamiji subsequently presented himself as a candidate focused on poverty reduction, education, healthcare and economic development. In his acceptance speech, he described Osun as being at a crossroads and promised to address what he considered deficiencies in the state’s governance.
Oyetola’s decision not to contest the primary further strengthened the emergence of Oyebamiji as the APC candidate.
In July 2025, Oyetola announced his withdrawal from the 2026 governorship race and said his priority was to support APC’s return to power in Osun.
Najeem Salaam and the ADC factor
While the major contest remained between Accord and APC, the ADC introduced another significant political variable.
Najeem Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and political ally of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, emerged as the ADC governorship candidate.
Salaam was the sole contestant at the party’s primary. Of 528 accredited delegates, 520 valid votes were cast in his favour, while eight votes were declared invalid.
His emergence gave the electorate another established political figure with experience in Osun politics and legislative administration.
Salaam has subsequently campaigned on governance and development issues. In May 2026, he said his administration would prioritise electricity and engage investors and stakeholders to address the state’s power challenges.
The ADC candidate’s presence has, therefore, added another layer to the contest, particularly in a political environment where alliances and defections have become central to the campaign.
Motor parks become another political flashpoint
As the election approached, political tension moved beyond party offices and campaign rallies into commercial transport spaces.
In July 2026, rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, clashed in Osogbo after one faction protested alleged restriction of access to motor parks.
The confrontation reportedly involved gunshots and disrupted commercial activities in parts of the state capital. The police subsequently deployed officers to several motor parks.
The police described the incident as a clash between rival factions and urged the groups to embrace dialogue.
“All stakeholders are urged to exercise restraint and avoid actions or statements capable of further escalating tensions,” the police said.
The motor park crisis subsequently entered the political debate, with the Accord campaign team accusing opposition elements of attempting to gain control of transport infrastructure. The APC rejected such allegations.
The dispute demonstrated how election-year competition had extended into institutions and networks capable of influencing movement, mobilisation and political activities across the state.
INEC has also maintained that it is not aware of any crisis between the transport unions in the state, as it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the national bodies of the transport unions in order to cater for election logistics.
The controversy surrounding CP Ibrahim Gotan
Security has become one of the most contested aspects of the Osun election.
In June 2026, civil society organisations, the National Association of Nigerian Students and other groups protested in Osogbo and called for the removal of Osun Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.
The protesters alleged that political violence was increasing and questioned the neutrality of the police command. They called on the Inspector-General of Police to replace Gotan ahead of the election.
The commissioner, however, also received support from certain quarters.
Days after the protest, another group organised a solidarity march in Osogbo, backing Gotan and praising his handling of security matters.
The competing demonstrations reflected the sharply divided perceptions surrounding the police command.
Gotan subsequently held meetings with political parties, the military, INEC and other stakeholders as security concerns increased. He warned political actors against destroying campaign billboards and other materials belonging to opponents.
The police have also investigated specific incidents connected with the campaign, including alleged attacks and the destruction of political materials.
Security preparedness
The Nigeria Police Force has deployed 15,000 personnel across the state to provide security before, during and after the poll. The deployment covers officers assigned to polling units, strategic locations and other areas considered vulnerable to violence.
IGP Disu has also deployed a Deputy Inspector-General of Police to coordinate the overall security operation for the election.
In the heat of the protests against CP Gotan, IGP Disu visited the state, where he met with the governor. During the meeting, Disu pointed out that there were allegations that criminals were being harboured inside the Osun State Government House. He, however, assured that the Nigeria Police, as the lead agency for election security, would maintain its neutrality.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, also announced the deployment of 10,210 personnel, comprising 10,000 operatives drawn from 10 neighbouring state commands and additional specialised tactical and operational units. About 1,000 personnel are being contributed by each of the Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and Federal Capital Territory commands.
The NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, in company of the Osun State Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo, on Wednesday, August 12, paid a visit to Governor Adeleke as a means of assuring residents of the state’s preparedness and the corps’ commitment to ensuring a peaceful and violence-free poll.
The personnel include uniformed and undercover operatives, while specialised units are also being deployed to reinforce the Osun Command and protect voters, electoral officials, observers, journalists and critical infrastructure.
The Nigerian Army is also participating in the election security arrangement under Operation SAFE CONDUCT, with troops deployed to support the police and provide outer-cordon security. However, unlike the police and the NSCDC, the Army has not publicly disclosed the exact number of soldiers deployed to Osun.
Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, General Officer Commanding 2 Division, directed the troops to remain politically neutral, avoid polling units unless intervention becomes necessary and strictly observe the Code of Conduct for election duty.
Also, personnel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, are in the state as part of preparations for the poll on Saturday.
Campaign claims and counterclaims
The campaign season has been marked by frequent accusations and rebuttals between the Imole Campaign Council, representing Adeleke’s re-election bid and the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council.
One of the earliest major disputes concerned campaign billboards.
The Imole Campaign Council alleged that APC-linked actors destroyed Adeleke and Accord campaign billboards in several local government areas. The council called for an investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
The APC rejected the accusation and said its own campaign materials had also been destroyed.
Oluremi Omowaiye, head of the APC campaign council’s media and publicity committee, described the allegation against the APC as false and politically motivated.
The disagreement eventually prompted the police to announce an investigation into billboard destruction.
Police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi said the command condemned the destruction of billboards and other public symbols, warning that such actions could heighten tension.
“The police condemn the destruction of billboards and other government symbols within the state and have launched an investigation to identify, arrest and prosecute perpetrators,” he said.
The campaign councils have also exchanged accusations over political violence, alleged attacks on their supporters, alleged assassination attempts and the conduct of security agencies.
In July, the Accord camp questioned the police account of an alleged assassination attempt involving APC campaign Director-General, Oluwole Oke, after a video involving one of the arrested suspects circulated online. The APC and the police maintained their own accounts of the incident.
The claims remain matters of investigation and political dispute rather than established findings against either of the campaign organizations.
INEC and the road to August 15
Amid the political confrontation, INEC has continued preparations for the election.
The commission originally scheduled the Osun governorship election for August 8, 2026, but the poll is now officially scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, August 15.
Former Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, played a substantial role in preparations before his transfer.
In April 2026, INEC transferred Agboke from Osun to Ondo State. In his farewell message, he thanked stakeholders for their support during his tenure. Before his departure, he had continued meetings with stakeholders and discussions on voter-related issues and logistical concerns.
He was replaced in Osun by Oluwatoyin Babalola, an experienced INEC legal practitioner and administrator.
According to INEC’s official profile, Babalola joined the commission in 1990, rose to become Director of Legal Services and Director of Legal Drafting and Clearance, and was appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner in December 2023.
Her arrival generated its own controversy.
Some Osun residents staged a protest at the INEC headquarters in April, asking Babalola to maintain neutrality and expressing concern over speculation about the reason for her deployment.
Babalola has repeatedly said INEC will enforce the electoral rules without favouring any political party.
She said strict compliance with the Electoral Act and the INEC guidelines would guide the commission’s actions before, during and after the election.
Operational preparations have also advanced.
INEC said 3,763 BVAS devices would be deployed to the state’s 3,763 polling units, with 664 additional devices kept as backups. The commission said the devices would be used for voter accreditation and the uploading of polling-unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal.
The commission has also invited accredited civil society organisations to observe the election, with the formal observer accreditation process opened ahead of the August 15 poll.
Civil society enters the election space
Beyond political parties and government institutions, civil society organisations have played a growing role in the preparations.
The International Press Centre, IPC, and Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, have organised stakeholder engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation among electoral actors, promoting peaceful participation and addressing issues capable of undermining the election.
A wider election observers hub, involving CEMESO, ElectHER, IPC, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, the Kukah Centre and Yiaga Africa, also presented a pre-election assessment of the state.
The organisations identified political competition, institutional tension, security concerns, information disorder and the exclusion of marginalised groups as issues requiring attention ahead of the poll.
Kimpact Development Initiative has also maintained election violence monitoring in the state.
KDI reported that it documented 44 election-related violent incidents between October 2025 and June 2026, resulting in 13 fatalities, injuries and property destruction. It also recorded 24 non-election-related violent incidents during the same period, with 23 fatalities.
KDI Executive Director, Bukola Idowu said the election should be associated with peaceful participation and informed citizen choice rather than bloodshed and intimidation.
“The 2026 Governorship Election should be remembered for peaceful participation, credible competition, informed citizen choice, and the collective maturity of stakeholders, not for bloodshed, intimidation, and fear,” Idowu said.
TAF Africa has concentrated particularly on inclusion.
The organisation trained 150 Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, as election observers under its Able2Vote initiative ahead of the Osun poll. It has also participated in citizens’ town hall activities and discussions on inclusive reporting and participation.
The Kukah Centre, Yiaga Africa and other organisations have similarly been involved in voter education, observation, stakeholder engagement and election-integrity initiatives.
These interventions have added another layer to the election beyond the activities of the political parties.
What awaits Osun on August 15
The political history leading to the 2026 election has, therefore, been marked by continuity and change.
Adeleke goes into the contest as the incumbent governor who won the 2022 election, survived a tribunal defeat and ultimately received final judicial confirmation from the Supreme Court.
Oyetola is in the election indirectly, having left the governorship contest but remaining a central figure in the APC’s political structure and supporting the party’s campaign for a return to government.
Oyebamiji is flying the APC flag after a consensus-based primary involving 1,660 delegates.
Salaam leads the ADC into the battle after securing 520 valid votes at his party’s primary.
Meanwhile, Adeleke’s movement from PDP to Accord changed political discourse in the state, reshaping the traditional party alignments that existed when he won.
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