2026 Osun Guber Election, Who Wins?

As it remains few days to enter year 2026, campaign time is fast approaching and tension is growing daily as Osun State people are agitating on who wins or loose the coming governorship election.

Dailies, people read attacks from oppositions alleging and accusing one and another, all these is to paint their political parties and candidates in a good picture. But the question majority are asking is who is likely to win the coming governorship election in Osun State.

Taking the three strongest political parties in Osun State, All Progressive Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Accord Party, the three are presenting their best candidate with either good or worst antecedents as perceived by the masses. Remember that one man's food is another man's poison. 

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presents Najeem Salam, PhD, the former House of Assembly Speaker under APC then as their governorship candidate. Najeem Salam, PhD with his political godfather are perceived good by some categories of people as both pull crowds in Osun State. Anywhere Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola stands politically, crowd always gathered around him based on his antecedent in Osun State as the former governor for eight years, and as people perceived that his support made governor Ademola Adeleke to win 2022 governorship election when he was the Minister of Interior.

Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is the present National Secretary to ADC where Najeem Salam PhD is contesting. Dr. Salam is equally perceived to be a very kind man who had assisted many within Osun State and politically. All these stand to his credit which may eventually pave way for him to Abere next year.

Though, politically many are still saying contrary about Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and Dr. Salam, the ADC candidate for 2026 governorship election. They always referred to the payment of half salaries experienced during the eight years of Aregbesola's tenure as governor under APC.

Looking at All Progressive Congress (APC), their candidate is Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) who was Commissioner for finance for Aregbesola and Oyetola under APC then in Osun State when Aregbesola was paying half salaries.

He has thousands of followers from his political party and among the masses which makes him having hope of winning the coming election. Some perceived that he depends largely on the federal might to declare him winner of the poll as their is nothing to campaign with as APC achievement in Osun State for their twelve years rulling.

All what they say is "we shall take power from Governor Ademola Adeleke". When taking the power what do they want to do with it has not been said. Well, masses await campaign to start to know what he has in mind for the masses if emerged as governor of Osun State.

The last candidate is Governor Ademola Adeleke who just decamped from People's Democratic Republic to ACCORD party to actualize his second term bid. 

What are the chances of winning the election come August 8th, 2026? As incumbent governor, people assumed he can influence the masses to vote him in for the second term. Apart from this, he has really transformed the state and made it better than APC left it. Regular payment of salaries to state workers, even continuous payment of LGs staff who are on strike for months, construction of roads and bridges within Osun State etc are part of confidence he and his followers are having that he may probably win for the second term.

Apart from all these, masses are still complaining of somethings. As we know that human being are insatiable, and according to Abraham Lincoln hierarchy of needs, people will not be satisfied with same thing all the time.

They complained that for more than three years in office, he has not employed as he promised in his campaign before he won the election in year 2022. He and his political party PDP campaigned against APC that as soon as he wins 2022 governorship election, they will employ to fill all the vacant positions in all the state. 

The youths bought application form for the teachers' recruitment, did interview but never employed till now. Those victims are waiting to pay him back during the next election. They said, instead of employing the youths, he elongated years of service for the retired teachers.

Those Governor Ademola Adeleke disengaged because they were appointed after Gov. Oyetola lost the election are equally waiting to pay him back, likewise all the OYES he disengaged await election day.

Moreso, those towns where Governor Adeleke removed monarchs installed by Oyetola and APC, those closed to victims are not happy to re-elect him as the governor.

They claimed that he replaced OYES with Imole Corps which was given to his party executives in all the words within the state. The youths within his party self were aggrieved for neglect and exclusion from the empowerment.

Some complained about how he developed his home town compare to what he did to other towns. Employment of Ede indigenous people while he shot doors against other people from other towns.

Installing Ede people as Rector of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Directors of various ministries and employment of people from Ede  at Ministry of Works. 

Relocation of Osun Airport site to Ede and backing he gives to Ede monarch as he invades and sells land in other towns. Many neighboring towns and villages of Ede vowed never to cast their votes for him to return as governor the second term.

With massive developmental work of governor Ademola Adeleke and criticism against him call for the question, who is likely to win 2026 Osun State governorship election?

          By Peter Olayinka AWOFADEJU, PhD.