•Adeleke (L), Oyebamiji (centre) and Salam (R)
The road to Saturday, August 15, 2026 is getting busier in Osun State.
With the governorship election approaching, 14 political parties have put forward candidates, each hoping to emerge with the mandate to lead the State of the Living Spring.
But amid the crowded field, three names stand out for their political strength, presence and popularity: incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Najeem Salam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
For the 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: Incumbent Eyeing Re-Election
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: Banker, Former Commissioner
Standing across the political divide is Bola Oyebamiji, the 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.
Salam: A Familiar Face Returns
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.
Battlefield Packed Full
Beyond the three prominent contenders, 11 other candidates are also seeking the governorship.
They are Olanrewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance; Olajide Esan of the African Action Congress; Adeagbo Opawoye of the African Democratic Party; Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives’ Grand Alliance; Adewale Adebayo of the Allied Peoples Movement; Clement Adesuyi of the Action Peoples Party; Masilo Adeleke of the Boot Party; Taofeek Adeleke of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Saliu Oyelami of the Peoples Redemption Party; Olalekan Ogunsakin of the Young Progressives Party; and Adefemi Adesuyi of the Zenith Labour Party.
Among them is the only female candidate in the election, Yemisi Adeagbo of the African Democratic Party, a retired school principal who is 84 years old.
For the people of Osun State, the wait is narrowing to one decisive day.
On Saturday, August 15, the campaigns, promises, and political calculations will give way to the ballot as the electorate chooses who will lead the State of the Living Spring.
