Voters in Osun State are heading to the polls today to elect the next governor of the state in an off-cycle election featuring 15 political parties.
The election will determine who occupies the Bola Ige Government House for the next four years, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party.
Although 15 candidates are on the ballot, the contest is widely expected to be a three-way race between Adeleke, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress.
Two candidates, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement, have withdrawn from the race. Adeyemi-Doro endorsed Oyebamiji, while Adewale declared support for Adeleke. However, their parties will remain on the ballot.
The Independent National Electoral Commission said Osun has 2,339,233 registered voters, out of which 1,906,390 collected their Permanent Voter Cards and are eligible to vote.
The voters are expected to cast their ballots across 3,763 polling units in 332 wards spread across the state’s 30 local government areas.
The election is the second off-cycle governorship poll in 2026 and the last major election before the 2027 general elections. It will also provide an opportunity to assess the preparedness of INEC ahead of next year’s polls.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured residents that the commission is prepared for the election and urged voters to use their ballots rather than violence to determine the winner.
The election comes amid concerns over violence during the build-up to the poll. Reports indicate that more than 70 incidents of violence, resulting in about 30 deaths, have been recorded in the state, while INEC identified 385 potential flashpoints across 13 local government areas.
Security agencies have consequently intensified preparations, with the Nigeria Police Force deploying 15,000 personnel across the state.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has also deployed 10,214 personnel, alongside specialised tactical units, while other security agencies have mobilised personnel to support the election.
With heightened security and three leading contenders dominating the political contest, voters in Osun are expected to determine who will govern the state for the next four years.
