Osun election: 10 battleground LGs that may decide Adeleke, Oyebamiji race

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, the three leading candidates in the poll have intensified their campaigns as they seek to secure victory.

The incumbent Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is running on the platform of the Accord Party; the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Oyebamiji; and Dr Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress have been running neck-and-neck, consolidating their holds on their respective strongholds while wooing power brokers in local government areas where they have weaker campaign structures.

All three leading candidates hail from Osun West Senatorial District, with Adeleke and Salaam coming from the Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency.

After almost four years in office, Adeleke has been using projects executed by his administration as a bargaining chip across the local government areas of the state.

Banking on block votes from the two local government areas in Ede, his hometown, Adeleke is also expected to win Egbedore Local Government Area, where the incumbent member representing his federal constituency, Bamidele Salam, hails from.

With the influence of his running mate, Kola Adewusi, and former PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, Adeleke’s camp also considers Ife Central, Ife East and Ife South among the local government areas where he is expected to perform well.

However, Adeleke’s chances in the three local government areas could be limited by the fact that Oyebamiji’s running mate, Benjamin Adereti, also hails from Ile-Ife.

Adeleke’s camp will also be hoping that former APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, does not actively support Oyebamiji, as this could further boost the incumbent governor’s chances.

Ifelodun, Ila, Oriade, Iwo, Ifedayo, Orolu and Olaoluwa are also among the council areas where Adeleke’s foot soldiers have made noticeable inroads.

The support Adeleke enjoys from Iwo-born former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Moshood Adeoti, may also count in his favour, particularly in the Iwo Federal Constituency.

Adeleke’s chances of winning, particularly in the Iwo Federal Constituency, may, however, be hampered by Dr Amin Ogunbiyi, who is the senatorial candidate of the party in the 2027 general election.

Findings by The PUNCH indicate that all three leading candidates could secure a significant number of votes in the two local government areas in Osogbo, the state capital.

While the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, has openly declared support for Adeleke, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and the party’s senatorial candidate in the 2027 poll, Adekunle Adegoke (SAN), are making inroads into some of Adeleke’s strongholds in the two LGAs.

The considerably large following that former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, still enjoys in Osogbo is also helping Salaam’s cause in both Osogbo and Olorunda local government areas.

Oyebamiji will be banking on block votes from the Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency.