Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has retained his current deputy as his running mate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election.
Details released by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State on Monday confirmed the development. The commission also published the names and particulars of candidates contesting the poll.
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Oyebamiji, picked former lawmaker Tunde Olatunji, who represented Ife North State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, as his running mate.
The only female governorship candidate in the race is Adeagbo Yemisi, the flagbearer of the Action Democratic Party.
Two other political parties also selected women as deputy governorship candidates. Adesoji Masilo of the Boot Party chose Aresa Adenike as his running mate. Similarly, Adeleke Adewale of the New Nigeria Peoples Party selected Adeyera Adesola as deputy governorship candidate.
The African Action Congress named Esan Abeeb as its governorship candidate, with Bello Muideen as running mate.
Olanrewaju Farinloye and Fadahunsi Olaniyi emerged as the governorship candidate and running mate of the Action Alliance.
The African Democratic Congress will field Najeem Salaam as its candidate, with Popoola Tajudeen cleared as running mate.
Adewale Adebayo is contesting under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement, alongside Jimoh Naheem as deputy governorship candidate.
In a statement signed by the Osun INEC Public Affairs Officer, Musa Olurode, the commission confirmed that 14 political parties met the requirements and uploaded their candidates’ names within the stipulated timeframe.
According to the statement, the qualified parties include Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (APP), Boot Party (BP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Young Progressive Party (YPP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
However, the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, and Youth Party were omitted from the published list.
The commission cited Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the timetable for the Osun State Governorship Election in publishing the personal particulars of candidates and their running mates (Form EC9).
