Recently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the release of adjusted timetable for Osun State Governorship election.
In a statement in Abuja by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said campaigns in the State is now midnight on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in line with Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides that campaigns shall end 24 hours prior to election day.
Recall that on the 26th of February 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election and adjusted the Osun State Governorship Election forward by one week from the 8th of August 2026 to the 15th.
However, the statement partially read thus; “as a result of this adjustment, the last day for political parties’ campaigns in the state is now midnight on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in line with Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides that campaigns shall end 24 hours prior to election day.
“The Commission urges all political parties, candidates, and stakeholders to strictly adhere to the revised timeline.
“INEC remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.”
In any case, following this development, WITHIN NIGERIA took a look at the candidates that will shape political landscape in the said forthcoming gubernatorial election.
Olajide Esan(AAC)
A 39-year-old entrepreneur, Olajide Esan, on Saturday emerged as the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) for 2026 Osun State Governorship election.
Esan, who is also a car dealer, emerged through a consensus arrangement of the party which was monitored by the officials of Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).
The Osun State Chairman of AAC, Tayo Adeyemi, addressing newsmen after the primary held at the party’s secretariat, Powerline area, Osogbo, declared that Esan emerged with the backing of party members across the state.
Najeem Folasayo Salam (ADC)
He was born 8 August 1965. He is popularly called Iwaloye.
He is a former speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly.
He has (BSc) degree in political science (Second Class Upper) in 1993 from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.
He earned a master of political science there in 2013 and went on to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in the same discipline of Political Science on 5 January 2018.
His Speakership
Salaam was elected Assembly Speaker on 2 June 2011. He was elected Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Conference of Speakers of States Legislature, with a mandate to midwife new executive members of the Conference through a free and fair election. The election, conducted in 2012, is still adjudged one of the association’s best.
During his tenure as Speaker of the assembly (2011-2015) in Osun, the house promulgated 32 Bills, made 42 Resolutions and conducted 4 public Hearings. The laws involved HIV/AIDS, signage and street advertising, security trust funds and urban renewal.
Adeagbo Yemisi(ADP)
Adeagbo Yemisi is a retired school principal.
She emerged as the candidate of the Action Democratic Party for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
The statement described Adeagbo’s emergence as historic, noting that she is the first and only woman in the race for t
According to the party chairman in the state, Toye Oka-Akinola, the governorship candidate, notably the only female aspirant in the race, brings a wealth of experience to the contest. She is a former educationist, seasoned administrator, activist and comrade, having served as a school principal and a committed member of the Nigeria Union of Teachers.
Bola Oyebamiji (APC)
Bola Oyebamiji was a former Managing Director/CEO of the National Inland Waterways Authority.
He has also served as the Commissioner for Finance in Osun state during the administrations of former Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola.
Before his tenure as Commissioner, Oyebamiji was the Managing Director/CEO of Omoluabi Holdings Limited (formerly OSICOL).
Born in Irewole local government area in Ikire Osun State. He began his education at A.D.C Primary School, Oke-Ada, Ikire, from 1971 to 1977 and continued at Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire, from 1978 to 1982, where he obtained his Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
Oyebamiji earned his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Banking and Finance from The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
He later obtained a master’s degree in Public Administration from Lagos state University in 1997 and another master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Ado-Ekiti in 2004.
Ademola Jackson Adeleke (Accord Party)
Ademola Adeleke is the incumbent governor of the state.
He was born 13 May 1960. He has been governor since 2022. He served as the senator representing the Osun-West senatorial district from 2017 to 2019.
He contested in the 2022 Osun state gubernatorial election under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party and defeated incumbent governor, Adgboyega Isiaka Iyetola of All Progressives Congress who defeated him in the 2018 state gubernatorial election rerun.
