Adeleke, Oyebamiji, and Salaam Go Head-to-Head as Voters Prepare for High-Stakes 2026 Polls

With election day drawing close, political tension has reached a peak across Osun State as voters prepare to decide who will occupy the governor’s office in the August 15 governorship election.

The three-way race features incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Dr. Najeem Salaam.

Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke enters the contest with a massive grassroots following and a strong track record of popular governance. Running under the Accord Party banner following internal legal battles that left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without a candidate, Adeleke’s campaign hinges on his administration’s infrastructure drive, healthcare improvements, and the prompt payment of inherited worker salaries and pensioner arrears. However, his political adversaries have targeted his platform change and questioned long-term state debt management, making his ability to hold onto his broad voting coalition crucial.

Representing the opposition APC, Bola Oyebamiji brings years of financial administration and public sector management to the table. As former Commissioner for Finance and current Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Oyebamiji boasts strong technocratic credentials and the institutional backing of the federal ruling party. While his campaign emphasizes economic restoration and institutional discipline, he faces intense pushback from opponents who attempt to link him to controversial economic policies of previous state administrations.

Positioned as a formidable third contender, former House of Assembly Speaker Dr. Najeem Salaam leads the ADC ticket. Backed by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s political movement, Salaam draws heavy support from Osun West and voters seeking an alternative to the traditional two-party dynamic. With extensive legislative experience, Salaam promises institutional reform and balanced regional growth, though analysts note that breaking through the formidable structures of the major parties remains an uphill battle.

As political rallies wind down across all thirty local government areas, election observers emphasize that voter turnout, regional alliances, and public sentiment over local economic welfare will ultimately determine who emerges victorious at the polls.