The governorship election in Osun state is scheduled to hold today, Saturday, August, 15, 2026. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the election will commence by 8:30am and close by 2:30pm.
A total of 15 parties are on the ballot for the off-cycle election, with the incumbent, Ademola Adeleke, whose first term ends in November, seeking a fresh mandate on the ticket of the Accord Party.
Two of the candidates- Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of APGA and Simon Adewale of APM – announced their withdrawal from the contest. While Mr Adeyemi-Doro declared support for the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, Mr Adewale is backing Governor Adeleke. However, both the APM and the APGA will still be on the ballot for the election.
The other contenders for the governorship seat, according to INEC, are Najeem Salaam (ADC), Olanrewaju Farinloye (AA), Esan Olajide (AAC), Adeagbo Opawoye (ADP), Clement Adesuyi (APP), Masilo Adeleke (BP), Taofeek Adeleke (NNPP), Saliu Oyelami (PRP), Ogunsakin Olalekan (YPP), Adefemi Adesuyi (ZLP), and Francis Olugbenga (SDP), who was added to the list on Wednesday courtesy of a court judgement.
However, many political pundits have described the race to the Bola Ige House, Abere, Osogbo as a three-way contest between incumbent Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam.
The state has 2,339,233 registered voters, but 1,906,390 of them, representing 81.50 per cent, who collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), are eligible to participate in today’s poll. They will vote in the 3,763 Polling Units (PUs) spread across the 332 wards of the 30 local government areas in the South-west state.
The off-season governorship election is the second in the year and the last before the 2027 General Election. It will, therefore, serve as a litmus test for INEC, which has commenced preparations for the general election. It is also the third major poll, after those of the FCT Area Council and Ekiti governorship elections, to be conducted since the Electoral Act 2026, which contains new guidelines on election conduct, was signed by President Bola Tinubu in February.
If anything, the Osun poll will serve as a test of integrity for the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, who assumed office last year.
Calm, cool atmosphere
NewsClick Nigeria reports that despite reports of possible violence owing to the politically charged atmosphere, a tour of major cities and local government areas revealed the opposite.
NewsClick Nigeria reporters on ground in the state explained that if what was obtainable in places visited as at Friday night was anything to go by, the election may witness little or no violence at all.
From Ikire to Gbogan, Odi Omu, Sekona, Akuda and Osogbo, our reporters could only sight one thing: calmness. Road was free and security officials (Police, Army, DSS, NSCDC) well positioned at strategic locations on the highway.
The popular Orisumbare and other markets in Osogbo metropolis closed by 5pm on Friday (yesterday) signaling preparedness for the poll.
Some residents who spoke to our reporters express readiness to perform their civic responsibilities.
“I’m a first time voter and so ready to see what it feels casting my vote. I’m hopeful the election will be peaceful so it doesn’t discourage me and others in my age bracket performing our civic responsibilities for the first time,” a 19-year-old prospective higher institution student told NewsClick Nigeria.