With the Osun State governorship election just two weeks away, concerns over possible violence have heightened, but the credibility of the poll will depend largely on how the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies conduct themselves, Davidson Iriekpen writes
On August 15, 2026, the people of Osun State will head to the polls to elect a governor who will oversee the state’s affairs for the next four years.
The main contenders are the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party; Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who enjoys the backing of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a loyalist of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Many analysts see the election not only as the last off-cycle governorship poll before the 2027 general election, but as a major test of the electoral security framework and the ability of state institutions to guarantee peaceful and credible elections.
The responsibility of conducting the poll rests squarely with the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan. The election will not only test his capacity to conduct a free, fair and credible election, but showcase how he handles the much-awaited 2027 polls.
