Osun 2026: Meet the Three Major Governorship Candidates — Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam

By Jide Akingbondere

As Osun State approaches the August 15, 2026 governorship election, the political atmosphere is increasingly dominated by three prominent candidates: the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party; the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dr Najeem Folasayo Salaam.

Each candidate comes into the election with a different political background and governing experience. Adeleke is seeking to retain the office he won in 2022. Oyebamiji is banking on decades of experience in banking, public finance and administration to make the case for a change of government. Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, is seeking to position himself as a credible third option built around legislative experience and grassroots politics.

*Ademola Adeleke: The Incumbent Seeking Continuity*

Governor Ademola Adeleke has risen from the private sector to the Senate and eventually to the Osun State Government House, becoming one of the most recognisable political figures in the state.

Born on May 13, 1960, in Enugu, Adeleke is from Ede in Osun State. He was born into a politically influential family. His father, Ayoola Adeleke, was a senator during the Second Republic, while his late elder brother, Isiaka Adeleke, served as the first elected governor of Osun State and later as a senator.

His younger brother, Adedeji Adeleke, is a businessman and founder of Adeleke University. The governor is also the uncle of internationally recognised Nigerian musician David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

Before venturing fully into politics, Adeleke worked in the private sector. He served as an executive director of Guinness Nigeria Plc and later as group executive director of Pacific Holdings Ltd.

His educational journey also took him to the United States, where he attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama and later Atlanta Metropolitan State College. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2021.

Adeleke’s major breakthrough in politics came in 2017 when he won the Osun West Senatorial District seat.

In 2018, he contested the Osun governorship election against Gboyega Oyetola of the APC but was defeated. The rivalry continued into 2022, when Adeleke returned to the governorship race and this time emerged victorious.

INEC declared Adeleke the winner with 403,371 votes, while Oyetola polled 375,027 votes. Adeleke won 17 of the state’s 30 local government areas, compared with Oyetola’s 13.

That victory transformed Adeleke from a former senator into the occupant of Osun’s highest political office.

Four years after that victory, Adeleke is seeking another term. His administration’s achievements, policies and record in office are expected to be central to his campaign as he attempts to convince voters to give him another mandate.

The major question for the incumbent is whether he can sustain the political coalition that delivered victory in 2022 while overcoming the challenges and criticisms that have emerged during his first term.

*Bola Oyebamiji: The Banker Bringing Technocratic Experience*

Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

A native of Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area, Oyebamiji has built a career that cuts across banking, public administration and politics.

He started his professional career in the banking industry and worked with institutions including Wema Bank before moving into government. His financial-sector background has remained a major feature of his public profile.

Oyebamiji obtained both National Diploma and Higher National Diploma qualifications in Banking and Finance from The Polytechnic, Ibadan. He later earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Lagos State University and an MBA from the University of Ado-Ekiti. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

His involvement in Osun’s public sector deepened when he became Managing Director of the Osun State Investment Company, now associated with Omoluabi Holdings.

He subsequently served as Commissioner for Finance under former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and later under Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

Those positions gave him extensive exposure to the state’s finances and placed economic management at the centre of his political credentials.

His public-service career later extended to the federal government. In 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). He later left the position to pursue his political ambition in Osun.

Oyebamiji emerged as the APC candidate for the 2026 governorship election after the party’s primary in December 2025.

His candidacy represents an attempt by the APC to regain control of Osun after losing the governorship to Adeleke in 2022.

The APC candidate has placed emphasis on economic development, job creation, investment, effective governance and administrative reforms. His background in banking and public finance is a major part of his argument for why he should be entrusted with the state’s leadership.

For Oyebamiji, the election is an opportunity to move from managing public institutions and government finances to becoming the chief executive of Osun State.

*Najeem Salaam: The Former Speaker and Third Force*

Dr Najeem Folasayo Salaam, popularly known as Iwaloye, is the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress.

Born in Ejigbo, Osun State, Salaam is an academic, author and politician who previously served as Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly.

He studied Political Science at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree. He subsequently earned master’s and doctoral degrees in Political Science from the same university.

Beyond politics, Salaam has an academic and literary background. He co-authored Rudiments of Government and Politics, a textbook used in the study of government and politics.

His political career became particularly prominent during the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, when he served as Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly.

His years in the legislature gave him significant political experience and strengthened his connection with grassroots politics across the state.

Salaam later secured the ADC ticket for the 2026 governorship election. At the party’s primary held in December 2025, he was the only aspirant. Out of 528 accredited delegates, 520 voted for him, while eight votes were declared void.

His candidacy introduces another dimension to an election largely viewed through the rivalry between the incumbent and the APC.

Salaam has campaigned on issues including education, workers’ welfare, youth empowerment, healthcare, security, electricity and economic development. His campaign has also stressed inclusive governance and the need to rebuild citizens’ confidence in government.

However, his role in the Aregbesola administration is expected to remain part of the political conversation as voters assess his experience and political record.

For Salaam, the election is an opportunity to move beyond legislative politics and seek the executive mandate required to implement his vision for Osun State.

*One State, Three Different Choices*

The 2026 Osun governorship election presents voters with three candidates whose political journeys are markedly different.

Adeleke represents continuity, entering the election with the advantage of incumbency and the record of his first term.

Oyebamiji represents a return of the APC, presenting his banking, financial-management and administrative experience as the foundation for a new government.

Salaam represents a third option, drawing on his experience as a former Speaker, academic and grassroots politician while offering the ADC as an alternative to the two dominant political camps.

Beyond party structures and campaign rhetoric, the election will ultimately be a referendum on leadership, performance, competence and the candidates’ ability to respond to the challenges facing Osun State.

As voters prepare to cast their ballots on August 15, the central question is no longer simply who has the strongest political structure, but who can most convincingly present a workable vision for the future of Osun State.