Osun 2026: 8 LGAs That May Decide Winner between Adeleke and Oyebamiji
- All three leading candidates in the August 15 Osun governorship poll hail from the same senatorial district, making vote distribution tightly contested
- The Accord Party, APC and ADC camps each claimed they will win all 30 local government areas in the state
- Battleground councils including Osogbo, Olorunda, Odo Otin and Ilesa East could ultimately decide who wins the election
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Legit.ng as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues.
Osogbo, Osun State - Three days before Osun state's governorship election, the race between incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, the All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and Dr Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress has tightened considerably, with each camp making targeted moves in contested local government areas.
All three frontrunners hail from Osun West Senatorial District. Adeleke and Salaam share the Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency, while Oyebamiji comes from the Irewole/Isokan/Ayedaade Federal Constituency.
Read also
Full list of states controlled by APC, APM, others ahead of Osun governorship election 2026
Source: Instagram
As reported by The Punch, 8 battleground LGs may decide the Adeleke-Oyebamiji governorship race.
Adeleke's strongholds and vulnerabilities in Osun election
Adeleke is leaning on four years of infrastructure projects as his primary campaign tool, banking on block votes from his hometown of Ede and its neighbouring local governments.
His running mate, Kola Adewusi, and former PDP National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo are expected to boost his numbers in Ife Central, Ife East and Ife South. Former Osun SSG Moshood Adeoti, who is from Iwo, is also working to deliver the Iwo Federal Constituency for the governor.
However, Oyebamiji's running mate Benjamin Adereti hails from Ile-Ife, which complicates Adeleke's outlook in the three Ife councils.
APC's senatorial candidate Amos Ogunbiyi is seen as a potential obstacle in Iwo, while a possible move by former APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore to back Oyebamiji could further erode the governor's position.
Oyebamiji and Salaam's electoral push ahead on Osun poll
Oyebamiji is expected to draw heavily from his home federal constituency, where former governorship aspirant Dotun Babayemi, from Gbongan, is working to deliver the area.
The backing of a faction of the PDP led by former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola could also strengthen Oyebamiji's position in Odo Otin Local Government Area.
He is also considered the frontrunner in Boluwaduro and Boripe, areas tied to Marine Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, as well as in Irepodun, Ife North and Obokun.
Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly who served eight years in the role, remains a credible threat.
Beyond his home council of Ejigbo, he is expected to perform strongly in Ilesa East, Osogbo and Olorunda, partly through the political influence of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who remains his political mentor.
That same association, however, carries liabilities that could limit his broader appeal.
Aside from the traditional strongholds of the main contenders, the election could be decided in the following LGAs
- Osogbo
- Olorunda
- Ife Central
- Ife East
- Ife South
- Odo Otin
- Iwo
- Ilesa East
Source: Twitter
Adeleke accuses Oyetola of using federal might
Recall that Governor Adeleke lashed out at former governor Oyetola at an Arise TV Townhall debate ahead of the Osun governorship election.
Adeleke claimed Accord party members were arrested and that one candidate remained in detention in Abuja at the time of the debate.
The governor said he contacted Bishop Matthew Kukah to intervene before he would agree to attend a peace-signing event.
Osun election: Primate Ayodele warns Adeleke
Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele warned Adeleke not to believe claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has no interest in Saturday's governorship election.
The cleric disclosed that the APC plans to deploy money, influence, power, forces, and the presidency to win the Osun governorship seat.
Ayodele cautioned Adeleke that losing the election would have serious consequences, including difficulty getting relief from the courts.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
