The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, has selected former House of Representatives candidate Benjamin Adereti as his running mate for the 2026 governorship election.
Adereti, who contested the Ife Federal Constituency seat in the 2023 general election but lost to Bimbo Ajilesoro of the Peoples Democratic Party, replaces former Osun State lawmaker Tunde Olatunji. Olatunji had earlier appeared as Oyebamiji’s deputy on a previous list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Meanwhile, the former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, who is contesting the governorship election under the African Democratic Congress, has picked Yemisi Agiri as his running mate.
On the other hand, the incumbent governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, will contest the election with his current deputy, Kola Adewusi, as his running mate on the platform of the Accord Party.
According to the final list of nominated candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Adeyera Oluwabusola Adesola, 36, was named the running mate to the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Adeleke Adewale Taofeek, 52.
Similarly, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, Adesuyi Olufemi, 50, will run with Abdulsalam Olamide, 35, while Esan Olamide, 39, of the African Action Congress, has Bello Muideen Yekeen, 51, as his deputy governorship candidate.
In a letter dated March 4, 2026, and signed by the INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the electoral body forwarded the final list of candidates nominated by the 14 political parties cleared to participate in the Osun governorship election.
The letter, titled “Forwarding of Final List of Candidates for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election,” noted that March 9, 2026, is the deadline for the publication of the final list in accordance with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled to take place on August 15, 2026, with 14 political parties expected to participate.
However, notable parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party were not listed among those fielding candidates for the poll.
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