Gubernatorial candidates of the 2026 Osun State election. Photo Source: Channels TV.
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On Aug. 15, 2026, the people of Osun State will head to the polls to elect a governor who will lead the state for the next four years.
According to Premium Times, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared 14 candidates from different political parties to contest the election.
The election will take place across the state’s 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs), as voters decide who will occupy the Bola Ige House in Osogbo.
From the incumbent governor seeking re-election to experienced politicians and technocrats, the 14 contenders bring different backgrounds, experiences and visions for the future of Osun State.
Below are the candidates’profiles.
- Ademola Adeleke (Accord Party)
Ademola Adeleke is a 65-year-old politician and the incumbent governor of Osun State. He previously served as a senator representing Osun West Senatorial District before becoming governor in 2022. He is seeking re-election in the Aug. 15, 2026 governorship election under the Accord Party.
Adeleke’s campaign is built around an updated five-point agenda focused on youth, women and workers’ welfare and empowerment, infrastructure consolidation and agro-industrial expansion.
His campaign also highlights his administration’s record in areas including the rehabilitation of health centres and schools, infrastructure development, workers’ welfare and improvements in education and healthcare.
Adeleke holds a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) qualification. He is running alongside Adenusi Adegboyega.
- Olanrewaju Farinloye (Action Alliance Party)
Photo Source: New Nigerian Newspaper
Olanrewaju Farinloye is a 40-year-old politician and the Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate in the 2026 Osun State governorship election. He is contesting alongside Fadahunsi Olaniyi.
According to his campaign profile, Farinloye has experience in trade, security, identity and revenue systems. He has highlighted technology, entrepreneurship, agriculture, industrialisation and infrastructure as key areas of his development agenda.
According to the candidate particulars released by INEC, Farinloye holds General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and Certificate of Comprehensive Education and Computer Studies (CCECS) qualifications.
- Esan Olajide(African Action Congress)
Photo Source: Punch Newspaper.
Esan Olajide is a 39-year-old entrepreneur and businessman from Osun State who is contesting the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
He emerged as the African Action Congress’s (AAC) candidate through a consensus arrangement at the party’s primary election in December 2025.
Olajide holds a First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) qualification.
He is running with Bello Yekeen as his deputy.
- Salaam Folasayo (African Democratic Congress)
Najeem Salaam is a 61-year-old Nigerian politician, lawyer and former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly. He is contesting the 2026 Osun State governorship election as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Salaam is from Ejigbo in Osun State and has been involved in grassroots politics for several decades. He served in the Osun State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2015 and was elected Speaker during that period.
He also served as a supervisory councillor for health before his election to the state House of Assembly. As Speaker, he presided over the assembly, during which several bills were passed, and resolutions on issues including healthcare, security, urban renewal, and microcredit were adopted.
Salaam holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Political Science, a Master’s degree in Political Science and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Salaam is running with Yemisi Agiri, a retired nurse from Ila-Orangun, as his deputy.
- Adegabo Yemisi (Action Democratic Party)
Adeagbo Yemisi is an 84-year-old politician, educationist, administrator, and community advocate from Osun State.
She is the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and the only female governorship candidate in the race. She emerged as the ADP’s flagbearer after the party’s governorship primary in December 2025.
Adeagbo is a retired school principal and former educationist who was also involved in the activities of the Nigeria Union of Teachers. Her campaign is focused on inclusive leadership, accountability, good governance and sustainable development.
Adeagbo holds a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree, according to the candidate particulars released by INEC. She is running with Atanda Babatunde as her deputy.
- Munirudeen Oyebamiji (All Progressives Congress)
Munirudeen Oyebamiji is a 60-year-old Nigerian politician, public finance expert and technocrat. He is contesting the 2026 Osun State governorship election as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He previously served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). He was also a two-term Commissioner for Finance in Osun State.
Oyebamiji has spent much of his professional career in banking, finance and public administration. His campaign presents him as a technocrat with experience in public finance and governance. He has pledged that an APC administration under his leadership would be based on fairness, transparency, accountability and equitable distribution of resources.
Oyebamiji attended A.D.C. Primary School, Oke Ada, and Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire. He holds an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Banking and Finance, a Master’s degree in Public Administration and an MBA.
- Adesina Adeyemi-Doro (All Progressives Grand Alliance)
Adesina Adeyemi-Doro is a Nigerian politician and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He emerged as the party’s candidate after its governorship primary held in Osogbo in December 2025.
His campaign is focused on repositioning Osun State through responsible leadership and sustainable development. Adeyemi-Doro has identified agriculture, education, healthcare and sports among the areas central to his vision for Osun State.
He, however, recently withdrew from the race and declared his support for Oyebamiji Bola, the APC’s candidate.
- Adewale Adebayo(Allied Peoples Movement)
Adewale Adebayo is a Nigerian politician, real estate developer and community advocate. He is contesting under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
He emerged as the party’s governorship candidate in December 2025 after being affirmed as the consensus candidate at the party’s primary in Osogbo. Adebayo previously served as the Osun State chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
Adebayo is a real estate developer and the General Managing Director of Tri-Edge Properties. Upon emerging as the APM candidate, he said his campaign would seek to restore good governance, rebuild public trust and address what he described as failures in Osun State leadership.
- Bamiji Adesuyi (Action Peoples Party )
Bamiji Adesuyi is a Nigerian politician and the governorship candidate of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
He emerged as the party’s candidate after securing the affirmation of 39 delegates at the party’s governorship primary in Osogbo. He was the sole aspirant at the primary and pledged to work toward the party’s success in the Aug. 15 election.
His campaign is centred on youth empowerment, healthcare, education and infrastructure.
- Adeleke Masilo (Boot Party)
Adeleke Masilo is a Nigerian politician and the governorship candidate of the Boot Party (BP).
He is also the chairperson of the Boot Party in Osun State and has previously contested for elective office, including the Osun West Senatorial District seat in the 2023 general election.
Masilo is contesting alongside Aresa Kehinde Adenike, who is the Boot Party’s deputy governorship candidate.
- Taofeek Adeleke (New Nigeria Peoples Party)
Adeleke Taofeek is a 52-year-old politician and the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Taofeek, who was a state chairperson of the NNPP, has focused his campaign on people-oriented governance and improving the living standards of residents across Osun State.
He is also focused on education, healthcare, security and infrastructure, which he describes as the four pillars of his proposed administration.
- Rasaq Saliu (Peoples Redemption Party)
Rasaq Saliu, popularly known as Orisunlagba, is a medical doctor, humanitarian and politician who is contesting under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Oyelami studied Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ilorin, graduating in 2003. The University of Ilorin described him in 2025 as a 2003 medical graduate and highlighted his continued connection with the institution.
Oyelami has received recognition for his contributions to healthcare and community service.
- Olufemi Adesuyi (Zenith Labour Party)
Olufemi Adesuyi is a 50-year-old engineer, entrepreneur and politician contesting under the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
He is seeking to lead Osun State, promising to improve residents’ welfare and living standards. He is running with 35-year-old Abdulsalam Olamide as his deputy.
Adesuyi’s campaign identified agriculture, technology and community development as key areas of his proposed administration. He has proposed creating 10,000 jobs through agriculture, which he describes as an important sector for economic growth and youth employment.
- Olalekan Ogunsakin (Young Progressive Party)
Olalekan Ogunsakin is the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP). The YPP candidate is contesting alongside Oyetola Taye as his running mate.
