Residents of Osun State will go to the polls on Saturday to elect their governor for the next four years. The off-cycle election appears to be shaping up as one of the most competitive political contests in Nigeria since the 2023 general elections.
A total of 15 candidates have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, the APGA candidate, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro, announced he was withdrawing from the race to support the APC candidate. He is, however, still expected to be on the ballot.
The three major contenders are Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, who is seeking a second term in office; a former Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji, of the All Progressives Congress (APC); and Najeem Salaam, a former speaker of the state House of Assembly, who is running on the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The others are Olanrewaju Farinloye (AA); Esan Olajide (AAC); Adeagbo Opawoye (ADP); Adewale Adebayo (APM); Clement Adesuyi (APP); Masilo Adeleke (BP); Taofeek Adeleke (NNPP); Saliu Oyelami (PRP); Ogunsakin Olalekan (YPP); and Adefemi Adesuyi (ZLP).
The PDP, Mr Adeleke’s former party, which ruled the state under former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and on which platform Mr Adeleke was elected in 2022, is not fielding any candidate due to a leadership crisis at the national level. The governor dumped the party for Accord last December.
