Profile: Ademola Adeleke, Osun State Governor and Accord Party Governorship Candidate For Osun 2026

With less than two weeks to the 15 August 2026 Osun State governorship election, Governor Ademola Adeleke is once again seeking the mandate of the state’s electorate, this time as the candidate of the Accord Party.

A familiar figure in Osun politics, Adeleke has remained one of Nigeria’s most recognisable politicians, known for his dramatic rise from the private sector to the Senate and eventually the governorship.

His political journey has been marked by electoral victories and setbacks, party defections, legal battles and a strong connection with the influential Adeleke family.

As voters prepare to decide who will govern Osun for the next four years, here are 15 key facts about Ademola Adeleke, his background, political career and public life.

1. He is the incumbent Governor of Osun State
Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke has served as the Governor of Osun State since 27 November 2022, succeeding Gboyega Oyetola.

2. He was born in Enugu State
Adeleke was born on 13 May 1960 in Enugu State and is one of Nigeria’s most recognisable political figures.

3. He comes from the influential Adeleke family
He is the younger brother of the late former Osun State Governor Isiaka Adeleke and billionaire businessman Dr Adedeji Adeleke. Afrobeats superstar Davido is his nephew.

4. He is both a politician and businessman
Before venturing fully into politics, Adeleke built a career in business and administration, holding executive positions in multinational and private companies.

5. He worked with Guinness Nigeria Plc
Between 1992 and 1999, he served as an Executive Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, working alongside prominent figures, including retired General Theophilus Danjuma.
He also held senior positions in the United States and Nigeria

7. Adeleke worked with Quicksilver Courier Company in Atlanta before becoming Vice President of Origin International LLC. He later served as Group Executive Director of Pacific Holdings Limited from 2001 to 2016.

8. He studied in both Nigeria and the United States
He attended Methodist Primary School in Lagos, Nawarudeen Primary School, Ikire, Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School, Ede, and Ede Muslim Grammar School before proceeding to the United States for higher education.

9. He earned a degree in Criminal Justice
Adeleke studied at Jacksonville State University and later obtained a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Atlanta Metropolitan State College in 2021. He entered politics following his brother’s death
Adeleke formally joined active politics after the death of his elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, winning the 2017 Osun West Senatorial by-election.

10. He represented Osun West in the Senate
He served as the Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District from 2017 to 2019.

11. He was once a member of the APC
Adeleke began his political career in the All Progressives Congress (APC) before defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in April 2017.

12. He lost the 2018 governorship election after a rerun
Adeleke contested the Osun governorship election in 2018 under the PDP. Although the initial poll was declared inconclusive, the rerun was won by APC candidate Gboyega Oyetola, a result later upheld by the Supreme Court.

13. He defeated Oyetola to become governor in 2022
In the 16 July 2022 governorship election, Adeleke polled 402,979 votes to defeat incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who secured 375,027 votes, winning 17 of the state’s 30 local government areas.

14. He joined the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 election
After leaving the Peoples Democratic Party in December 2025, Adeleke joined the Accord Party and is its governorship candidate for the 15 August 2026 Osun State governorship election.

15. He overcame a certificate forgery case
Adeleke faced allegations of forging his secondary school testimonial and examination records during his political career.

However, the Osogbo High Court dismissed the suit after ruling that the allegations had not been proven.