Two-Horse Race: Adeleke, Oyebamiji in Fierce Battle for Osun Governorship

A fierce battle for Osun governorship is unfolding between incumbent Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji. The election, which is the final stage in a competitive contest, has effectively narrowed down to these two prominent figures. Notably, other candidates are still in the race.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a call to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, urged them to ensure a smooth, transparent election and uphold the will of the people. A 42-hour movement restriction has been imposed by the Nigeria Police Force, effective from midnight last night until 6:00 p.m. today, as part of steps aimed at maintaining a peaceful, secure, and orderly election process.

Osun, which has 2,339,233 registered voters, witnessed the collection of 1,906,390 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), representing 81.50 percent of the total. The remaining 426,842 PVCs, making up 18.50 percent, are deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Osogbo, with 167,704 registered voters, leads the state with 7.17 percent of the total electorate.

Ife East, with 128,515 voters, comprises 5.50 percent, while Olorunda and Ife Central account for 5.26 and 5.24 percent, respectively. A significant portion of Osun's voters—nearly half—are concentrated in just 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

President Tinubu emphasized the importance of the election, urging INEC to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive poll. He also appealed to the electorate to participate in the polls and maintain their safety before and after the voting process. The candidates, including Adeleke, Oyebamiji, Farinloye Olarenwaju, Esan Olajide, Adeagbo Opawoye, Mustapha Adeniyi, and others, have presented their manifestoes to address various issues, ranging from infrastructure development to economic prosperity.