She also called for special attention to ensure women, youths, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are not excluded from the electoral process.
INEC has intensified preparations, focusing on voter education, grassroots participation, and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner Oluwatoyin Babalola emphasized that elections should be viewed as a continuous democratic process, not limited to polling day.
Babalola warned that misinformation, political apathy, lack of confidence, and inadequate access to reliable information continue to deter voters. She urged electoral officers to expand sensitization campaigns in markets, schools, motor parks, places of worship, and other public spaces, and to collaborate with traditional rulers and religious leaders.
She also called for special attention to ensure women, youths, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are not excluded from the electoral process.
Outlook
As campaigns enter their final phase, attention will center on the ability of INEC and security agencies to guarantee a peaceful, credible election, and on each candidate’s capacity to mobilize voters across all 30 local government areas. The outcome will test whether intensified outreach and the competitive nature of the race can reverse the downward trend in voter participation observed in recent elections.
INEC has intensified preparations, focusing on voter education, grassroots participation, and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner Oluwatoyin Babalola emphasized that elections should be viewed as a continuous democratic process, not limited to polling day.
Babalola warned that misinformation, political apathy, lack of confidence, and inadequate access to reliable information continue to deter voters. She urged electoral officers to expand sensitization campaigns in markets, schools, motor parks, places of worship, and other public spaces, and to collaborate with traditional rulers and religious leaders.
She also called for special attention to ensure women, youths, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are not excluded from the electoral process.
Outlook
As campaigns enter their final phase, attention will center on the ability of INEC and security agencies to guarantee a peaceful, credible election, and on each candidate’s capacity to mobilize voters across all 30 local government areas. The outcome will test whether intensified outreach and the competitive nature of the race can reverse the downward trend in voter participation observed in recent elections.
To win, a candidate must secure a majority of valid votes and at least 25 % of the votes cast in no fewer than two‑thirds of the state’s 30 local government areas — meaning victory in at least 20 LGAs.
The three‑way contest makes this spread requirement especially critical; if votes are divided among Adeleke, Oyebamiji, and Salaam, each candidate will need to make significant inroads into Osun Central and Osun East to meet the threshold.
INEC Preparations
INEC has intensified preparations, focusing on voter education, grassroots participation, and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner Oluwatoyin Babalola emphasized that elections should be viewed as a continuous democratic process, not limited to polling day.
Babalola warned that misinformation, political apathy, lack of confidence, and inadequate access to reliable information continue to deter voters. She urged electoral officers to expand sensitization campaigns in markets, schools, motor parks, places of worship, and other public spaces, and to collaborate with traditional rulers and religious leaders.
She also called for special attention to ensure women, youths, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are not excluded from the electoral process.
Outlook
As campaigns enter their final phase, attention will center on the ability of INEC and security agencies to guarantee a peaceful, credible election, and on each candidate’s capacity to mobilize voters across all 30 local government areas. The outcome will test whether intensified outreach and the competitive nature of the race can reverse the downward trend in voter participation observed in recent elections.
Introduction
Eligible voters in Osun State will head to the polls on August 15, 2026, to choose a governor who will lead the state for the next four years. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 14 candidates for the contest, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is running for a second term on the Accord Party platform.
Notable Absences
Unlike the previous governorship election, neither the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nor the Labour Party (LP) will have a candidate on the ballot. Adeleke’s defection from the PDP to the Accord Party has reshaped the state’s political dynamics, disrupting the usual PDP‑APC showdown.
Key Contenders
Political scientist Samson Elesho described the election as a fiercely contested three‑way race featuring:
- Ademola Adeleke (Accord Party) – incumbent governor from Ede North LGA.
- Bola Oyebamiji (All Progressives Congress) – candidate from Irewole LGA.
- Najeem Salaam (African Democratic Congress) – former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, hailing from Ejigbo LGA.
All three leading candidates originate from the Osun West Senatorial District, a factor likely to influence voting patterns across the zone.
Other Cleared Candidates
Additional contenders cleared by INEC include:
- Farinloye Olarenwaju – Action Alliance
- Esan Olajide – African Action Congress (AAC)
- Adeagbo Opawoye – African Democratic Party (ADP)
- Adesina Adeyemi‑Doro – All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
- Saliu Oyelami – Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
- Ogunsakin Olalekan – Young Progressives Party (YPP)
- Adefemi Adesuyi – Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
- Adewale Adebayo – Allied Peoples Movement (APM)
- Clement Adesuyi – Action Peoples Party (APP)
- Masilo Adeleke – Boot Party
- Taofeek Adeleke – New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Voter Turnout Trends
INEC data shows a steady rise in registered voters but a decline in actual participation:
- Registered voters: 1,411,373 (2014) → 1,678,985 (2018) → 1,952,387 (2022)
- Accredited voters: 764,582 (2014) → 775,687 (2018) → 827,218 (2022)
- Turnout percentages: 54.17 % (2014) → 46.20 % (2018) → 42.37 % (2022)
- Total votes cast: 750,021 (2014) → 769,495 (2018) → 823,124 (2022)
- Valid votes: 717,321 (2014) → 804,450 (2022)
- Rejected ballots fell from 47,874 (2018) to 18,674 (2022)
- PVC collection grew from 1,213,026 (2014) to 1,518,303 (2022)
Political analyst Jimoh Eruobami attributes the declining turnout to insecurity, distrust in the electoral system, and unfulfilled campaign promises, which have discouraged many voters from believing their participation will improve governance.
Constitutional Vote‑Spread Requirement
To win, a candidate must secure a majority of valid votes and at least 25 % of the votes cast in no fewer than two‑thirds of the state’s 30 local government areas — meaning victory in at least 20 LGAs.
The three‑way contest makes this spread requirement especially critical; if votes are divided among Adeleke, Oyebamiji, and Salaam, each candidate will need to make significant inroads into Osun Central and Osun East to meet the threshold.
INEC Preparations
INEC has intensified preparations, focusing on voter education, grassroots participation, and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner Oluwatoyin Babalola emphasized that elections should be viewed as a continuous democratic process, not limited to polling day.
Babalola warned that misinformation, political apathy, lack of confidence, and inadequate access to reliable information continue to deter voters. She urged electoral officers to expand sensitization campaigns in markets, schools, motor parks, places of worship, and other public spaces, and to collaborate with traditional rulers and religious leaders.
She also called for special attention to ensure women, youths, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are not excluded from the electoral process.
Outlook
As campaigns enter their final phase, attention will center on the ability of INEC and security agencies to guarantee a peaceful, credible election, and on each candidate’s capacity to mobilize voters across all 30 local government areas. The outcome will test whether intensified outreach and the competitive nature of the race can reverse the downward trend in voter participation observed in recent elections.
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