As Osun State moves toward the August 15 governorship election, the political contest has narrowed into a battle dominated by three prominent figures, even though 14 candidates will appear on the ballot.
Across the state’s 30 local government areas, the contenders have spent weeks making their cases to voters, selling their records, promises and visions for the State of the Living Spring.
At the centre of the contest are incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate; Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC); and Najeem Salam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
For each man, however, the journey to the ballot has taken a different route.
For Governor Ademola Adeleke, August 15 represents an opportunity to secure another four years and consolidate his administration’s record since taking office in 2022.
The Ede-born politician first sought the governorship in 2018 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but lost to APC candidate Adegboyega Oyetola.
Four years later, Adeleke returned to the race and defeated Oyetola, then the incumbent governor, to emerge as governor. He was sworn in on November 27, 2022.
His political career predates his governorship ambition.
In 2017, he entered the Senate to represent Osun West after the death of his elder brother, Adetunji Adeleke, who had previously occupied the seat.
Popularly known as “Imole”, Adeleke is now asking voters to judge him by what his administration says it has accomplished, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture and other areas.
The central question for his campaign is whether those achievements will be enough to persuade Osun voters to give him another mandate.
Challenging Adeleke from the APC is Bola Oyebamiji, a banker and financial expert whose political career has included senior roles in both the Osun State Government and the Federal Government.
Oyebamiji served as Osun Commissioner for Finance during the administrations of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, between 2017 and 2022.
An indigene of Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area, he is widely known as “AMBO”, derived from his full name, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
His experience later extended to the federal level when he became Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
Oyebamiji resigned from the position in November 2025 to pursue his governorship ambition.
Now carrying the APC flag, he is presenting his background in finance, public administration and government as part of his argument for why he should occupy the Osun Government House.
Najeem Salam brings perhaps the longest legislative experience among the three leading contenders.
The ADC candidate is from Ejigbo Local Government Area and is popularly known among supporters as “Iwaloye”.
He also holds a doctorate in political science.
His political career took off in 2007 when he won election to represent Ejigbo Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly.
That victory was later nullified by the Court of Appeal in 2009 following an omission involving his party’s logo on the ballot paper.
Salam returned to the race in 2011, won the seat again and subsequently became Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly.
He presided over the legislature from 2011 to 2015 and returned to the Assembly in 2017, remaining there until 2019.
Now, after years in the legislature, Salam is seeking to make the biggest leap of his political career by becoming governor.
While Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salam command much of the attention, the election is not a three-man race on paper.
Eleven other candidates are also seeking the governorship.
They are Olanrewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance; Olajide Esan of the African Action Congress; Adeagbo Opawoye of the African Democratic Party; Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives’ Grand Alliance; Adewale Adebayo of the Allied Peoples Movement; Clement Adesuyi of the Action Peoples Party; Masilo Adeleke of the Boot Party; Taofeek Adeleke of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Saliu Oyelami of the Peoples Redemption Party; Olalekan Ogunsakin of the Young Progressives Party; and Adefemi Adesuyi of the Zenith Labour Party.
Among the field is Yemisi Adeagbo of the African Democratic Party, the only female candidate in the election.
A retired school principal, she is 84 years old.
The crowded field underscores the political stakes in Osun, but the strength and visibility of the three leading contenders have placed Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salam at the heart of the contest.
Their campaigns have crisscrossed the state, with each seeking to convince voters that he is best positioned to lead Osun for the next four years.
But campaign speeches and political calculations will eventually give way to the ballot box.
On August 15, voters across Osun will decide whether Adeleke deserves another term, whether Oyebamiji can return the APC to power, or whether Salam can upset the established political order.
For the State of the Living Spring, one coveted seat—and one mandate—will be at stake.
