By Ayomide Otitoju
With the August 15 governorship election approaching, the campaign trail has taken the leading contenders across Osun State’s 30 local government areas as they seek to win the support of voters.
The three leading candidates include incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji and Najeem Salam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
For Adeleke, the election is an opportunity to defend the mandate he secured four years ago and seek another four-year term.
An indigene of Ede, Adeleke was a businessman and corporate administrator in Nigeria and the United States before entering politics.
His first governorship bid came in 2018 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when he lost to the APC candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Adeleke returned to the contest in 2022 and defeated Oyetola, who was then the incumbent governor. He was sworn in on November 27, 2022.
His political career, however, began before his governorship bid. In July 2017, he was elected senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, succeeding his late elder brother, Adetunji Adeleke.
Popularly known as “Imole”, Adeleke is campaigning on his administration’s record in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture and other sectors as he seeks re-election.
His main challenger is Oyebamiji, the APC candidate and a banker and financial expert with experience in both government and the private sector.
Oyebamiji served as Osun State Commissioner for Finance during the second term of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the administration of Oyetola between 2017 and 2022.
An indigene of Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area, Osun West Senatorial District, Oyebamiji is popularly known as “AMBO”, derived from his full name, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
He later served as Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), a position he resigned in November 2025 to pursue his governorship ambition.
Oyebamiji is now seeking to leverage his experience in finance and public administration to secure the votes needed to govern the state.
Also in the race is Salam, the ADC candidate and a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly.
An indigene of Ejigbo in Ejigbo Local Government Area, Salam, popularly known as “Iwaloye”, holds a doctorate in political science.
His political career in the state legislature began in 2007 when he was elected to represent Ejigbo Constituency in the House of Assembly.
The election was later nullified by the Court of Appeal in 2009 over the omission of his party’s logo on the ballot paper.
Salam returned to the contest in 2011, won the seat and became Speaker in June of that year.
He served as Speaker from 2011 to 2015 and was re-elected to the Assembly in 2017, remaining there until 2019.
He is now seeking to make the transition from the state legislature to the Government House.
Beyond the three prominent candidates, 11 other contenders are also seeking the governorship.
They are Olanrewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance; Olajide Esan of the African Action Congress; Adeagbo Opawoye of the African Democratic Party; Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives’ Grand Alliance; Adewale Adebayo of the Allied Peoples Movement; Clement Adesuyi of the Action Peoples Party; Masilo Adeleke of the Boot Party; Taofeek Adeleke of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Saliu Oyelami of the Peoples Redemption Party; Olalekan Ogunsakin of the Young Progressives Party; and Adefemi Adesuyi of the Zenith Labour Party.
Among the candidates is Yemisi Adeagbo of the African Democratic Party, the only female contender in the race. She is a retired school principal and is 84 years old.
With the election drawing closer, the campaigns are entering their final phase.
On August 15, voters across Osun State will head to the polls to decide who will lead the “State of the Living Spring” for the next four years.
