Political activities ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election have intensified as major parties confirmed their running mates following the release of the final list of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Oyebamiji, has selected Benjamin Adereti as his running mate for the upcoming election. Adereti previously contested the Ife Federal Constituency seat in the 2023 House of Representatives election but lost to Bimbo Ajilesoro, who ran under the Peoples Democratic Party at the time.
Adereti replaces former Osun State lawmaker Tunde Olatunji, whose name initially appeared on the earlier list submitted to the electoral body.
In another development former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly Najeem Salaam, contesting under the African Democratic Congress, selected Yemisi Agiri as his running mate. Her selection makes her one of the few female deputy governorship candidates in the race.
Meanwhile the incumbent governor Ademola Adeleke will contest the election on the platform of the Accord Party while retaining his current deputy Kola Adewusi as his running mate.
The final list released by INEC and signed by its Secretary Rose Oriaran Anthony also included other candidates and their deputies from several political parties participating in the poll. Among them is the New Nigeria Peoples Party governorship candidate Adeleke Adewale Taofeek who selected 36 year old Adeyera Oluwabusola Adesola as his running mate.
Other parties on the list include the Zenith Labour Party whose candidate Adesuyi Olufemi will run alongside Abdulsalam Olamide while Esan Olamide of the African Action Congress selected Bello Muideen Yekeen as deputy governorship candidate.
INEC stated that the final list was published in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act with March 9 2026 set as the deadline for publishing the final names of candidates.
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled to take place on August 15 2026 with 14 political parties cleared to participate. However notable parties including the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party do not currently have candidates listed for the poll.
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