It is nine days before the people of Osun State decide their next governor who will lead the state for the next four years.
On 15 August, the state’s governorship election will take place, marking the last off-cycle poll in Nigeria before the general elections in 2027.
In March, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the final list of candidates for the 15 August governorship election in Osun State.
For the main three contenders, the campaign trail has become a journey across Osun’s 30 local government areas, with each seeking to convince voters ahead of the August 15 contest.
Adeleke, wants to finish what he started
For Ademola Adeleke, this election is about defending the mandate he won four years ago and asking Osun voters for another four-year term.
The Accord Party candidate was a businessman and corporate administrator in Nigeria and the United States of America before making his mark in politics.
The Ede indigene’s first attempt at the governorship came in 2018 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but he lost that contest to the APC candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola.
However, Adeleke returned four years later. In 2022, he defeated Oyetola, who was then the incumbent governor, and was sworn in on November 27 of that year.
His political journey had begun before his governorship bid. In July 2017, Adeleke was elected senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, replacing his late elder brother, Adetunji Adeleke, who died while serving.
Known in political circles as “Imole,” Adeleke is now banking on what he describes as his achievements over the last three years in infrastructure, health, agriculture and other sectors as he seeks another term.
Oyebamiji, and his AMBO identity
Standing across the political divide is Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress ( APC) candidate and an experienced banker and financial expert.
Oyebamiji served as commissioner for finance in Osun State during the second term of former governor Rauf Aregbesola and the tenure of Adeleke’s predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, from 2017 to 2022.
He hails from Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun West Senatorial District and is popularly known as “AMBO,” an acronym of his full name, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
His public-sector experience continued beyond the state government. Oyebamiji served as managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) before resigning in November 2025 to pursue the governorship.
Now, he is taking that experience to the campaign trail, seeking the votes that could take him to the Osun Government House.
A comeback for Salam
Then there is Najeem Salam, the ADC candidate and another prominent name in the contest.
A native of Ejigbo in Ejigbo Local Government Area, Salam is popularly known as “Iwaloye” among his political associates and supporters. He holds a doctorate in political science.
His political journey in Osun’s legislature began in 2007 when he was elected to represent Ejigbo Constituency in the State House of Assembly.
That victory, however, was nullified by the Court of Appeal in 2009 because of an omission of his party’s logo on the ballot paper.
Salam did not stay down for long. He returned to the contest in 2011, won the House of Assembly seat and became Speaker in June that year.
He served as Speaker from 2011 to 2015 and was re-elected in 2017, remaining in the Assembly until 2019.
Now, he is back on the ballot, this time seeking the state’s highest political office.
Olanrewaju (Lanre) Farinloye
Olanrewaju (Lanre) Farinloye is a 40-year-old British-Nigerian systems builder, corporate director, and the Action Alliance (AA) candidate running for Governor of Osun State in the August 15, 2026 election, alongside his running mate, Fadahunsi Olaniyi.
He has over 15 years building organisational and technical systems across trade, security, identity, and revenue
Active UK company director associated with firms like Elate Entertainment
Campaigning under the Lanre Farinloye Campaign Platform with a core focus on technology, entrepreneurship, agriculture, industrialisation, and infrastructure development in Osun State.
Olajide Esan
Olajide Esan (often called Hon. or Comrade Olajide Esan) is a 39-year-old entrepreneur and geographer. He is the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate for the upcoming Osun State election.
Esan emerged as the party’s candidate in December 2025 for the Osun State gubernatorial race.
He had proposed an “Osun Resident Database” to directly tie government structure and welfare to the people, and aims to reduce financial dependence on federal allocations.
Yemisi Adeagbo Opawoye
Yemisi Adeagbo Opawoye is the Action Democratic Party (ADP) governorship candidate for the August 15, 2026, Osun State election.
A retired school principal and the sole female contender in the race, she campaigns on workers’ welfare, education reform, and grassroots empowerment under the slogan “Rescue Osun, Rescue Hope”.
She is the only female candidate certified by INEC for the 2026 Osun gubernatorial race.
Adesina Adeyemi-Doro
Prince Adesina Adeyemi-Doro is a Nigerian psychologist, entrepreneur, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate for the August 15, 2026, Osun State election.
He advocates for transparent governance, youth employment, and infrastructure renewal.
During campaigns, he promised better welfare for teachers, upgraded school infrastructure, and affordable healthcare systems. Youth & Economy:
Adeyemi-Doro pledged to create meaningful jobs and support entrepreneurship for modern economic readiness.
Adewale Simon Adebayo
Adewale Simon Adebayo is a Nigerian politician and the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
He has been active in Osun politics and previously served as the APM chairman in the state.
His emergence as the party’s candidate has placed him among the politicians seeking to challenge the established political parties in the August 2026 governorship contest.
Adebayo’s political campaign has focused on issues including agriculture, education, job creation, grassroots development and economic empowerment. He has presented himself as a candidate interested in using agriculture and other productive sectors to expand economic opportunities for residents of Osun State.
Clement Adesuyi
Clement Adesuyi is the Action Peoples Party (APP) governorship candidate
He emerged from the party’s governorship primary held in December 2025, where he was the sole aspirant and received the affirmation of 39 delegates. He subsequently became the candidate listed by INEC for APP in the Osun governorship race.
His emergence placed him among the candidates challenging the major political parties in the Osun election.
At his primary-election acceptance, Adesuyi pledged to work for the success of the APP and emphasised unity among members of the party. He also said he would not betray the confidence placed in him by the party’s delegates.
Adeleke Adesoji Masilo
Adeleke Adesoji Masilo is the Boot Party candidate for the Osun gubernatorial election.
He contested the Osun State governorship election in 2022 on the platform of the Boot Party, where he presented himself as an alternative to the major political parties. At the time, Masilo said his decision to contest was driven partly by his dissatisfaction with the way smaller political parties were treated in the state.
Masilo has also contested at the senatorial level. INEC’s final list for the 2023 National Assembly elections identified Adeleke Adesoji Masilo as the Boot Party candidate for Osun Central Senatorial District, listing his qualifications as Primary School Leaving Certificate, WAEC and PGD from the University of Ilorin.
Alhaji Taofeek Adewale Adeleke
Alhaji Taofeek Adewale Adeleke is the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) governorship candidate for the Osun State election.
His campaign focuses on grassroots development, youth empowerment, and an “Education for All” agenda.
Saliu Oyelami
Saliu Oyelami, is the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) candidate for the Osun State governorship election.
INEC’s final candidate list confirms Oyelami as the PRP candidate, with Adewale Alabi Solomon as his running mate.
Oyelami is a medical doctor, communicator and humanitarian, with more than two decades of medical practice.
His educational background includes studies at the University of Ilorin, the International University of Africa in Khartoum, and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja.
His campaign presents his professional experience and community-oriented work as the foundation of his political ambition.
Ogunsakin Olalekan
Ogunsakin Olalekan is the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the Osun State governorship election.
He is part of the wider field of 14 candidates challenging major frontrunners in the state.
Olufemi Adesuyi
Olufemi Adesuyi, is the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election, scheduled for August 15, 2026. INEC’s final list of candidates includes Adesuyi among the 14 candidates cleared for the election.
Adesuyi is an engineer, certified data analyst, Internet of Things (IoT) expert and consultant. He has previously contested for the Osun governorship seat on the ZLP platform, making his 2026 candidacy a continuation of his involvement in the state’s politics.
