Osun Election: 15 Candidates Battle for Governor

 

Osun Governorship Election: Adeleke, Oyebamiji, 13 Others Battle for Government House

OSOGBO, Osun State — August 15, 2026: Voting is underway across Osun State as millions of registered voters head to polling units to elect the next governor in a keenly contested governorship election featuring 15 candidates.

The election, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is attracting significant attention as incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeks another term against a field that includes All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam.

INEC has officially scheduled the Osun governorship election for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

Adeleke, Oyebamiji Lead Major Battle

Although 15 candidates are on the ballot, the contest has largely been viewed as a major battle involving Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam.

Adeleke, the incumbent governor, is seeking to retain the governorship, while Oyebamiji is leading the APC's challenge to take control of the state.

Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, is also seeking to make the ADC a major force in the election.

Recent reports have described the contest between Adeleke and Oyebamiji as particularly competitive, while the ADC remains another significant contender.

15 Candidates on the Ballot

The election features 15 candidates representing different political parties.

The large number of candidates means voters have a wide range of choices, although political activities and public attention have increasingly focused on the leading contenders.

Reports also indicate that changes to the final candidate list followed legal developments shortly before the election, adding to the complexity of preparations for the poll.

Security Tightened for Election

Security remains a major issue as voting takes place across the state.

The Nigeria Police Force announced a 42-hour restriction on movement in Osun State as part of measures to ensure a peaceful and orderly election.

Security agencies have also deployed personnel and other resources across the state to protect voters, electoral officials and election materials.

The heightened security comes amid concerns about political violence and the need to prevent disruptions during voting, counting and the collation of results.

Tinubu Calls for Peaceful and Credible Poll

President Bola Tinubu has called on INEC and security agencies to ensure that the election is peaceful, transparent and credible.

The President urged security personnel to protect voters and election officials while allowing citizens to freely exercise their democratic rights.

The appeal comes as the Osun election is being closely watched nationally, particularly because it is one of the major electoral contests ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.

Voters Await the Outcome

For voters across Osun State, the election represents an opportunity to determine the political direction of the state for the next four years.

Issues surrounding governance, economic opportunities, infrastructure, security and the welfare of residents are among the broader concerns expected to influence voters.

The credibility of the exercise will depend not only on voting but also on the conduct of electoral officials, political parties and security agencies throughout the process.

Results Must Reflect the People's Choice

As voting continues, attention will shift to the counting of ballots, collation of results and the eventual declaration by INEC.

Political parties and their supporters have been urged to remain peaceful and allow the electoral process to run its course.

The final outcome will be determined by the votes cast by the people of Osun State and the official declaration by the electoral commission.

PrimeNews247 will continue to monitor the Osun governorship election and provide verified updates as INEC releases official results.

Note: No winner is declared in this report because an official final result has not been established in the sources reviewed at the time of publication.