Osun 2026 governorship race heats up as Adeleke, Oyebamiji, Salaam jostle for power

As the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun State draws nearer, the political atmosphere is becoming increasingly charged, marked by intense manoeuvring, shifting alliances, betrayals and renewed rivalries.

Key political figures, including Senator Ademola Adeleke, Bola Oyebamiji and former Speaker Najeem Salaam, are positioning themselves as they test their popularity and political strength ahead of the decisive contest.

Political actors across party lines are once again recalibrating strategies, reopening old political wounds while forging new alliances in what is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested elections in the state’s recent history.

The forthcoming poll is unfolding against the backdrop of the 2018 and 2022 governorship elections, both of which significantly altered Osun’s political landscape and entrenched deep divisions among major parties and political blocs.

In 2018, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) narrowly lost to the then All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola, in an election declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The subsequent rerun produced Oyetola as governor, a process that sparked protests and protracted legal battles, with the PDP maintaining that the outcome did not reflect the will of the electorate.

Four years later, the political pendulum swung dramatically in the opposite direction. Adeleke defeated Oyetola in the 2022 rematch, unseating the incumbent and returning the PDP to power in Osogbo.

INEC figures from that election showed a wide margin of victory in favour of Adeleke, a result the PDP described at the time as “a clear verdict of the people.”

However, the aftermath of the 2022 election marked the beginning of renewed political scheming. Both the Adeleke and Oyetola camps reportedly began quiet but intense manoeuvring to retain relevance and influence ahead of the 2026 contest.

Sources within the APC say the party never fully accepted the 2022 defeat, viewing it instead as a temporary setback that required strategic recalibration.

On the PDP side, insiders acknowledge that internal cohesion weakened after the victory, with competing interests and power blocs emerging within the ruling camp.

READ ALSO: Osun 2026: Accord Party hails Adeleke’s defection, assures ticket

One of the most contentious issues in the post-2022 period has been the struggle for control of local governments, widely seen by analysts as central to the 2026 electoral calculations.

APC-backed elected officials, popularly referred to as “Yes or No,” have continued to assert authority in several local councils through court-backed arrangements.

In contrast, PDP-aligned officials, tagged “Seat at Home,” elected on the platform of the ruling party, have largely operated from outside the council secretariats.

An APC chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said local government structures would be critical in 2026. “Local government structures will play a decisive role in mobilisation, logistics and voter contact,” he said.

PDP officials, however, counter that physical control of council secretariats is less important than grassroots loyalty, which they argue will ultimately shape voter behaviour.

The local government dispute has thus evolved into a proxy political battlefield, influencing narratives of legitimacy and control across Osun’s 30 local government areas and the Modakeke Area Office.

Political tension escalated further in 2025 following reports that Governor Adeleke was considering a defection to the APC.

The reports sent shockwaves through both parties, with senior APC figures in Osun publicly opposing the move, insisting there was no consensus or structure to accommodate such a defection. Negotiations reportedly collapsed amid resistance from entrenched APC blocs loyal to Oyetola, effectively stalling the proposed move.

Adeleke’s eventual defection to the Accord Party on December 10, 2025 significantly altered the political equation, introducing a new dynamic into an already complex race.

 Osun Chairman of the Accord Party, Pastor Victor Akande, described the governor’s entry as “a strategic partnership aimed at expanding democratic choices in Osun.”

The defection triggered further intrigue, with the entire state cabinet, several politicalappointees and some PDP members defecting alongside Adeleke, while others remained behind to rebuild the party’s structure.

Within the APC, attention shifted to internal consolidation, culminating in the affirmation of Bola Oyebamiji as the party’s governorship candidate on December 13, 2025. The party said Oyebamiji’s emergence reflected “a consensus rooted in experience, party loyalty and statewide acceptability.”

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Osun confirmed former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, as its candidate, presenting him as an alternative voice in the race.

Speaking after his affirmation, Salaam said Osun voters “deserve credible options beyond the dominant parties.”

With three prominent candidates now in the field, political observers are divided on whether the 2026 election will be a genuine three-horse race.

Adeleke’s camp insists that the electoral strategy that delivered victory in 2022 remains intact despite his party switch, a position repeatedly articulated by his Special Adviser on Politics, Munirudeen Raji.

Supporters of former governor Oyetola argue that his enduring influence within the APC could translate into broader acceptance for Oyebamiji. ADC officials, on their part, contend that growing voter fatigue with established parties could work in Salaam’s favour.

INEC has reiterated its commitment to conducting a credible and transparent election, with officials noting that lessons from past elections will inform preparations for 2026.