OsunDecides2026: 1.9m voters decide Adeleke, Oyebamiji, Salaam’s fate

About 1.9 million eligible voters in Osun State are expected to vote today in the governorship election to determine who will occupy the Bola Ige Government House for the next four years.

A total of 15 political parties have candidates on the ballot for the off-cycle election, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party.

Two candidates — Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) — had announced their withdrawal from the race.

While Adeyemi-Doro declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, Adewale endorsed Adeleke.

Despite their withdrawals, however, the APGA and APM will remain on the ballot.

Other candidates listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Olanrewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance (AA), Esan Olajide of the African Action Congress (AAC), Adeagbo Opawoye of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Clement Adesuyi of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Masilo Adeleke of the Boot Party (BP), Taofeek Adeleke of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Saliu Oyelami of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Ogunsakin Olalekan of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Adefemi Adesuyi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Francis Olugbenga of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Olugbenga was added to the list on Wednesday following a court judgment.

The election is, however, expected to be largely contested among Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam.

Osun State has 2,339,233 registered voters, while 1,906,390, representing 81.50 per cent, collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and are eligible to vote in the election.

The voters are expected to cast their ballots across 3,763 polling units in 332 wards spread across the state’s 30 local government areas.

The off-cycle election is the second governorship poll in Nigeria this year and the last major election before the 2027 general election.

It will also provide a major test for INEC as the commission continues preparations for the 2027 elections.

The Osun election is the third major poll — after the FCT Area Council and Ekiti governorship elections — to be conducted since President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law in February.

The election will also be closely watched as a test of the leadership of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, who assumed office last year.

Amupitan, a professor of law, has assured that the commission is prepared for the election, despite concerns over violence and killings recorded in the state in recent months.

Reports indicate that more than 70 incidents of violence, resulting in about 30 deaths, have been recorded in the build-up to the election.

INEC has also identified 385 flashpoints across 13 local government areas in the state.

During a recent visit to Osun, Amupitan said the winner of the election would be determined by ballots rather than violence and assured residents that additional security personnel would be deployed to prevent electoral violence.

Ahead of the poll, the Nigeria Police Force deployed 15,000 personnel to Osun State, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deployed 10,214 personnel, alongside specialised tactical units.

Other security agencies have also deployed personnel across the state to maintain law and order during the election.