THE final list of candidates vying for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election has been released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, alongside their running mates.
News Point Nigeria reports that the final list, attached to a letter signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, on March 4, 2026, confirmed the participation of 14 political parties in the August 15 governorship poll.
Notably, the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party did not present candidates.
According to the final list updated on the INEC website, the All Progressives Congress candidate for the election, Bola Oyebamiji, picked the party’s 2023 House of Representatives candidate for Ife Federal Constituency, Benjamin Adereti, as his running mate.
Adereti, 48, who lost the 2023 election to Bimbo Ajilesoro of the PDP, replaces former state lawmaker, Tunde Olatunji, who was listed as the running mate in a previous submission to the INEC.
Also listed on INEC’s final list of governorship candidates is the former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Najeem Salaam.
The ADC candidate chose a female, Yemisi Agiri, as his running mate.
The incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of Accord, retained his current deputy, Kola Adewusi.
Other candidates, including Adeyera Oluwabusola Adesola (New Nigeria Peoples Party), Abdulsalam Olamide (Zenith Labour Party), and Bello Muideen Yekeen (African Action Congress), also named their running mates.
The INEC earlier fixed the governorship election for August 8, 2026, before it eventually rescheduled it to August 15, 2026.
With the final list already out, activities for the commencement of the campaign by political parties begins March 11, 2026.
Speaking in Osogbo during a Ramadan lecture organised by the Concerned Muslim Stakeholders and League of Alfas in Osun, the APC candidate, Oyebamiji, said the party would rely on hard work and consultation, rather than federal influence, to win the election.
“There is no way we can rely on federal might because we have consulted stakeholders across all 30 local governments, traditional rulers, men, and women.
“We are working hard and will continue until we have the opportunity to be the governor of Osun State.
“So, there is nothing like federal might. We have to do our work and deliver in a very good manner, character, and behaviour to every citizen of Osun,” he said.
Oyebamiji also urged eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards to participate in the election.
The guest lecturer at the event, Prof Kamaldeen Busari, praised Oyebamiji’s devotion to Islam, saying he “is not a religious impostor, not a religious charlatan, not a spiritual fraudster, not a false devotee. This is our incoming governor.”