Behind the relative calm in the polity, political calculations, regional permutations and strategic mobilisation are intensifying, with analysts describing the contest as one of the most consequential in the state’s recent political history.

Governor Adeleke’s decision to seek re-election on the platform of the Accord Party has continued to reshape the political landscape. Controversies surrounding the party’s governorship primary have, however, worked in his favour. Attempts by his perceived political opponents to derail his emergence failed after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) distanced itself from a parallel primary allegedly conducted by a faction of the party.

Governor Ademola Adeleke

INEC maintained that it only monitored the exercise that produced Adeleke as the valid candidate, a position that party leaders say effectively neutralised internal dissent. Political observers argue that the episode consolidated Adeleke’s grip on the party and reinforced his authority ahead of the August 8, 2026 governorship election.

Hailing from Ede in Ede North Local Government Area of Osun West Senatorial District, Adeleke is leaning heavily on incumbency, public visibility and the enduring influence of the Adeleke political brand. His strongest electoral base remains Osun West, where loyalty to the Adeleke dynasty runs deep across Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo,

Irewole and Ayedade local governments.
The governor’s camp is optimistic that his administration’s emphasis on workers’ welfare, regular payment of salaries and pensions, road rehabilitation and revived public health facilities will resonate beyond his traditional base, particularly in Osun Central and parts of Osun East where swing voters often decide electoral outcomes.

Yet, Adeleke’s departure from a major party structure has exposed vulnerabilities. While his personal popularity is not in doubt, the Accord Party lacks the entrenched statewide machinery of the older parties. Analysts note that low voter education in some rural areas and the absence of long-established structures could pose challenges. As a result, Adeleke’s re-election strategy rests on converting personal appeal into a cross-party movement capable of neutralising structural disadvantages, especially in APC-leaning local governments such as Osogbo, Olorunda, Boripe and Ifelodun.

Determined to reclaim the state after its 2022 loss, the APC has moved swiftly to consolidate its ranks. The emergence of Bola Oyebamiji as the party’s consensus candidate reflects a conscious effort to avoid the internal divisions that undermined its previous campaign.

APC’,s Guber Nominee, Bola Oyebamiji

Oyebamiji, a former Commissioner for Finance in Osun State and immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, is from Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun West.

Within APC calculations, Oyebamiji’s technocratic profile and administrative experience are expected to appeal to civil servants, professionals and party loyalists who prioritise structure, competence and policy coherence. The party retains strong support across Osun Central and parts of Osun East, including Ife North, Ife Central, Oriade and Atakunmosa West, where progressive politics enjoys deep historical roots.
The APC is also leveraging its alignment with the Federal Government while intensifying grassroots mobilisation aimed at cutting into Adeleke’s Osun West stronghold.

Adding a disruptive layer to the contest is the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has formally joined the race with the emergence of former Speaker Najeem Salaam as its governorship candidate. Salaam, who represented Ejigbo State Constituency and served as Speaker between 2011 and 2015, clinched the ADC ticket at the party’s governorship primary, elevating the party from a fringe option to a serious contender.
Salaam’s candidacy has complicated the Osun West equation, as all three major contenders hail from the same senatorial district. Political analysts say this intra-zonal convergence could significantly fragment votes in the state’s most populous bloc. With his legislative experience, grassroots connections and long-standing political network, Salaam is positioning the ADC as a credible alternative for voters disenchanted with both incumbency and the APC’s comeback push.

ADC’s governorship candidate, former Speaker Najeem Salaam

The ADC’s reformist message, combined with growing national relevance, is expected to gain traction in urban centres such as Osogbo, Ile-Ife and Ilesa, while Salaam’s roots in Ejigbo could help the party penetrate Adeleke’s traditional base.

As always, geography and voter distribution will be decisive. Osun West remains the central battleground due to its population advantage, Osun Central is emerging as the APC’s primary recovery theatre, while Osun East is likely to function as the ultimate swing zone where narrow margins could determine the outcome.

Beyond party labels and personalities, voter sentiment is shifting. Economic pressures, youth unemployment, infrastructure quality and access to basic services are shaping political conversations across the state. Many voters appear increasingly focused on performance and credibility rather than party rhetoric.

With campaigns gradually gathering momentum, Osun’s political class recognises that the 2026 governorship election will be anything but routine. Framed by continuity, comeback and disruption, the three-way battle between Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam is set to test not just party strength, but the electorate’s evolving expectations in a state long known for electoral surprises.

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The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, Honorable Isaac Omodewu, has described the call for the dissolution of all executive committees of the Party as mere wishful thinking of some bad political players whose knowledge of constitutional democracy cannot stand the test of time.

Omodewu was apparently reacting to a statement credited to a former federal lawmaker, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, who was quoted to have said on a live radio interview program monitored in Ibadan at the weekend that there were plans to replace the current executive committees of the APC in Oyo state with Interim Committee as a prelude to repositioning of the party.

In a statement issued on Saturday and made available to journalists in Ibadan, Hon. Omodewu regretted that Sen. Adeseun threw caution into the wind again while appearing on a live radio interview in a similar way he and his ilks did to precipitate needless crisis in the political space in the state on several occasions in the past. Funny enough, the man (Adeseun) is not a member of the APC at the moment as he worked assiduously for his party (Accord) in the recently concluded general election.

“We can recall that Sen. Adeseun emboldened others to reject all efforts made to placate them to remain in the APC following their disappointment at the end of the party primary conducted to pick candidates for the 2023 general elections. He gave them false hope about using another party to win election, but at the end of the day, many people were made to waste colossal resources only for most of them to end up working for Gov. Seyi Makinde of the PDP even when their Accord fielded candidates in the same election.

“Adeseun is only doing what he knows how to do best in the field of politics, but he should be reminded that nature has its way of rewarding people. If an individual has been a member of about seven different political parties in the past 15 years, and he is now making funny claims on air, he should blame himself if the old and young ones now see him as a confused clown.

“Immediately after the 2019 general election, Adeseun was everywhere telling the whole world how he was cheated in the PDP by Gov. Makinde and his narration was similar to what claimed led him to leave the same PDP for ACN in 2010 when he sought to wreck his kinsman (late Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala) but he failed. He then left the ACN for the PDP in 2014 because he felt a need to wrestle power from the late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi. What an unstable and controversial man he is.

“The current APC executive committees are products of legitimate congress and there is no place for fiat in our democracy that would empower the likes of Sen. Adeseun to order the dissolution of party executive committees even reasonable people would like to ask in what capacity he acted when he made the obnoxious remarks on radio. Adeseun, in his naivety, should have also asked for the sack of the executive committees in all the states where APC lost the governorship election or rather ask all those who won, in the 2023 election, on the platform of Oyo APC to vacate their office.

“As far as we are concerned, we have our eyes on the ball, and we will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that all aggrieved members who left our party in 2022 and new members from other political parties are attracted to Oyo APC. Our efforts have yielded positive results. Oyo APC remains a party to beat, and recently, we received gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Alh. Tawfiq Akinwale, and that of Action Peoples Party, Alh. Kazeem Ayandoye as well as their numerous supporters into the APC, while many of those who left in 2022 have also returned”. Omodewu stated.

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INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye, at a forum on Media Coverage of the 2019 General Elections in Enugu, informed journalists that the withdrawn certificates have been handed to the rightful winners.

“Just before we left the commission on Friday, we had returned the certificate of return of 25 candidates.”

He stressed that the withdrawals followed court orders after discovering that some political parties conducted ‘crooked’ primaries and ‘substitution of candidates’.

“Why were these certificates withdrawn? Some of the Political parties took their own party constitution on its head; some of the parties conducted crooked party primaries, engaged in substitution of candidates.”

According to Okoye,  20 out of the 25 certificates were withdrawn from candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and given to candidates of the same party; while two were withdrawn from APC candidates and given to candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Continuing, two were also exchanged between PDP members and one was withdrawn from a candidate of the APC and given to a member of Accord Party.

“20 of those certificates were withdrawn from candidates of the APC and given to other candidates of the APC. One was withdrawn from APC and given to a candidate of Accord Party.

“Two of the certificates were returned from the APC and given to the PDP candidates. Two certificates were withdrawn from the PDP and given to the PDP candidates.”

Mr Okoye further hinted  that more certificates of return may be withdrawn as the court is still adjudicating on some cases.

“And the withdrawals will continue because even before I left Abuja, the Federal, State and Appeal courts were still delivering judgments relating to party primary elections and were still giving orders to the commission to withdraw certificates of return and issue to others”, INEC added.

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This was disclosed through a letter read by the Deputy Clerk of the House, Felicia Foluke Oyediran during the plenary.

In the letter, Hon Kehinde Oloya announced his decision to dump the Accord Party (AP) for the Action Democratic Party (ADP), while Hon. Safiu Olalere of Ido State Constituency and Hon Wumi Oladeji defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to ADP

Mega Icon Magazine reports that with the various defections, the ruling APC still has the majority with 14 members, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2 members and the Accord Party (AP) parades just one member.

Also a motion on the urgent need to curb the menace of begging by underaged children on major streets in the state was presented by Hon Fatai Adesina representing Ibadan South East State Constituency and the majority leader, Hon kehinde Subair

The motion urged the executive arm of government through the Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to set up a special task force that will apprehend out of school children on the streets especially during school hours for proper placement

Other activities at the plenary Include, the presentation of the report of the joint committee on Information, Security and Strategy as well as Special Duties which investigated the reoccurring gang related violence in Oyo town and recommended some steps needed to be taken to address the situation.

The two Committee Chairmen, Hon Joshua Oyebamiji and Hon Gbenga Oyekola said the committee had several meetings with the relevant stakeholders with a view to finding lasting solutions to the reoccurring gang related violence in Oyo town

The Speaker, Hon Olagunju Ojo and other lawmakers lauded the committee for a job well done but called on all the Stakeholders to join hands with the state government towards ensuring peace in their respective domains.

The house has adjourned its plenary till next week Tuesday.

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Barring any last minute changes to the plans, Mega Icon Magazine investigations also revealed that Senator Akanbi has perfected plans to dump the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the next few weeks for, either the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), the Accord Party (AP) or the Peoples Democratic Congress, (PDP).

Our checks, however unearthed that the parties, amongst others had earlier set in motion machineries to woo Senator  Akanbi, but his chances of joining the PDP is slim based on his background and political antecedent as a progressive member.

A close source to Senator Akanbi who confided in our reporter stressed that the lawmaker had earlier expressed confidence in his achievements as a senator both in legislative activities and the citing of impacting projects in his constituency.

The source hinted further that the battle for the sole ticket of Oyo South Senatorial district between the incumbent governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi and the senator representing the senatorial district, Adesoji Akanbi necessitated the lawmakers’ moves and decision as he seeks re-election to the Senate.

The governorship tenure of Sen. Ajimobi will terminate in May 2019 and he already has his eyes at the Senate.

Senator Akanbi’s new posters indicating his reelection bid with the absence of party logo adorned every strategic place in the Ibadan metropolis.

This development has now laid to rest speculations that the lawmaker may not contest the 2019 generation elections

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The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC conducted the bye election in the constituency due to the sudden death of the last occupant, late Rt. Hon Michael Adeyemo, who was the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly.

Congratulations to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The Party was smart enough to pick Adebo Ogundoyin, a graduate of Babcock University, Ilisan Remo in Ogun state and the son of late famous industrialist, Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin.

Unlike the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, through its consultation selected Olukunle Adeyemo, the younger brother of late Speaker, Hon Michael Adeyemo.

Ibarapa East bye election: Ogundoyin emerges PDP candidate

The election was keenly contested as the exercise enjoyed the presence of INEC federal commissioner, state INEC Resident electoral commissioner, Barrister Mutiu Agboke, Domestic Election Observer and security operatives.

As usual, the tension between the two major towns – Eruwa and Lanlate was high as each town supported its son while political leaders and members going round secretly to canvass for their candidates.

In Eruwa, ‘ Omo-olore’ referring to Adebo Ogundoyin, a brand name aimed at refreshing people’s memory of the positive contributions made by his late father, Ogundoyin, while Lanlate adopted Adeyemo, also to consolidate the late speaker’s efforts.

At the end of voting exercise, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin of PDP polled 6,122 votes and defeated his closest rivalry, Mr Olukunle Adeyemo of APC, who got 4,618 votes followed by Accord Party candidate with 2,818 among other four contestants.

Despite the level of awareness and campaign of the ruling APC, the party could not emerge due to some challenges the party is currently battling with ahead of 2019 general elections.

The just concluded bye election into state house of Assembly seat can best be described as ‘Eruwa versus Lanlate’ and ‘APC versus PDP / APC Unity forum’ who secretly played the ostrich by supporting Accord Party (AP) candidate to foiled the votes of Lanlate and other strongholds of the the ruling Party.

This is the second time in three years that, APC led government in Oyo state, even before its internal crisis will loose bye elections into state Assembly seat.

The first defeat was attributed to failure of APC members and leaders to reach out to people in Oorelope state constituency while the second defeat can be traced to the division in Oyo APC.

In the just concluded bye election in Ibarapa East State Constituency, investigation revealed that members of APC unity forum supported Accord Party candidate, thus blocked the chances of APC.

For instance, Lanlate the strong hold of Opposition has two candidates, that’s Olukunle Adeyemo and Adepoju while only one strong candidate came from Eruwa which is Adebo Ogundoyin.

Out of the 10 wards in Ibarapa East Local Government, Eruwa has 6 wards; while Lanlate housed 4 wards.

The misunderstanding among members of APC was an avenue to capitalise on by the renewed PDP, in Oyo State

To be continued!

(C) Mega Icon Magazine

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Ekiti 2018: Fayemi Was Target Of Shooting – APC Chairman

Ibarapa East Constituency houses ,Eruwa, Lanlate, Itabo, Maya and some towns in the local government

Unlike in the previous election where the exercise was characterized with mal functioning of card readers, the Ibarapa East State Constituency bye election was an improvement on the part of the apex electoral body, INEC ahead of 2019 elections.

The Oyo state INEC resident Electoral commissioner, Barrister Mutiu Agboke, Electoral officers and observers, as well as Security Operatives were also on ground to ensure smooth conduct of the exercise.

Polling units monitored by our reporter, electorates lauded the umpire, INEC for conducting hitch free exercise.

In there separate remarks, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Akindele and Oni lala of Lanlate, Oba Abdullateef Olawuyi also attested to the peaceful conduct of the bye election

As at the time of filling the report, counting of votes has commenced under supervision of security operatives, electoral observers and INEC officials.

Seven Political parties, including Accord Party, APC, PDP, FDP, MPN and NPC participated in the bye election.

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The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oyo state, Barrister Mutiu Agboke stated this on Wednesday at enlarged stakeholders election forum meeting on the bye election into the vacant seat of Ibarapa East state constituency held at Eruwa Town Hall.

Barrister Agboke said sufficient and non- sensitive election materials have been procured for this election, adding that there is no course for alarm concerning the quantity and quality of materials to use.

According to him, the apex electoral body does not rate elections on the scale of small and big elections, stressing that elections are equally rated as serious, without any being downgraded.

INEC begins Ekiti guber election process

The INEC Boss explained that, Ibarapa east state constituency comprises 10 registration areas and One hundred and forty polling units spread across the constituency.

He maintained that for this bye election and subsequent elections, accreditation and voting will take place simultaneously.

Speaking on security, Barrister Agboke said the Inter Agency Consultative Committee On Election Security comprising the security agencies in Oyo state have been meeting to strategize and to also fine tune security strategies that will ensure protection for poll officials and voting materials as well as voters.

He said INEC has done necessary things in order to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the exercise.

Also, in his remarks, the Area commander, Ibarapa Zone, ACP Sola Oketunji said there is adequate security for the Saturday bye election, urging youths and political leaders to obey the law and order in regards of the elections.

In their separate responses, the representative of Eleruwa of Eruwa, Chief Bola Fashina, Chairman IPAC, Oyo state, Alhaji Waheed Oyewole and Rector, Ibarapa Polytechnic enjoined the people of Ibarapa east state constituency to corporate with the commission at ensuring free, fair and credible elections.

Seven political parties including, Accord Party, All Progressives Congress, FDP, HDP, MPN, MPN, NPC and PDP are expected to participate in the Saturday bye election in Ibarapa east state constituency.

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The carnival-like event was well attended by prominent people in the town,  including chieftains of the party,  who were all pledging their support for the Accord Party (AP) gubernatorial aspirant.

Vehicular movement was bought to a standstill as both male, female, old and young wanted to catch a glimpse of the man popularly known as ‘ABO’ whom Ekiti people believed could rescue the already battered economic, political and social life of the people.

The spokesperson for the community, Chief Adebisi Odedeji, while welcoming the team, lamented that successive governments in the state have abandoned them over the time, despite their supports for such in the past, adding  that every promises made during electioneering campaigns by past and current administrations has not been fulfilled by them.

“They always abandon us immediately we voted them into office, they don’t even know if we exist”.

He highlighted some of their pressing needs which include drinkable pipe borne water or boreholes, motor able access road to their form settlements, good storage facilities for their farm produce, modern farming equipments, access to soft loan, establishment of modern market for their products,  secondary school for their children, among others.

Responding in an emotion laden voice, the governorship hopeful, Ojo pitied the plight of every one living in the rural areas of Ekiti State including the Ago Aduloju residents.

According  to him,  going by Accord manifestoes, agriculture takes the front burner, hence the case of all these rural areas would be addressed holistically.

He assured them that the case of the Ago Aduloju community would  be given the utmost priority its deserves if voted to power come July 2018, stressing  that Ago Aduloju would wear a new look.

Corroborating his statements, the state Chairman of the party, Chief Samuel Odeoba cautioned the people to be vigilant this time around, urging that  their votes should not be sold for naira.

He promised that if they cast their vote for Accord this coming governorship and subsequent elections, Ago Aduloju would be elevated and every farmer, trader and residents shall enjoy the dividends of democracy to the fullest.

Also, at the event, hundreds of Accord membership cards were distributed to the voting age residents by the Chairman of the party.

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Ojo during an interaction with journalists, in Ibadan, while reacting to the alleged adoption by chieftains of his party, urged the public to dismiss the rumours, stressing that Adewale’s place was not known in Ekiti.

“How can a well positioned party like ours adopt Segun Adewale who has no political party here in Ekiti State?,” adding that he was not from the state and has no business in Ekiti State.

“He has not paid any tax to Ekiti State government in the past, our great party can’t use such a person as a candidate”.

Akogun Ojo, who also a gubernatorial aspirant for the election further added that the party is well positioned to win the forthcoming election, stating that he is the eligible candidate from the party to contest the election based on his integrity and honour.

The Accord Party Chieftain, Ojo, however stated that the party is open to anybody who wants to join with good intention and proper identity.

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