Following the spate of violence that has characterised campaigns and other activities ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election in Osun State, key stakeholders in the State of the Living Spring have called for issue-based engagement to forestall further violence, restore voter confidence, and urge major contenders to market manifestoes rather than resort to attacks, SEYE OLUMIDE reports.

With less than 47 days to the August 15, 2026, governorship election in Osun State, political parties, candidates, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, and religious leaders are intensifying efforts to ensure that the contest is decided at the ballot box rather than on the streets.

The renewed push follows months of political tension, sporadic clashes between rival supporters, and allegations of politically motivated attacks that have heightened fears of a violent election season. In several flashpoint communities, insecurity and intimidation have raised concerns that voter participation could be suppressed and that confidence in the electoral process could be weakened.

Supporters of the three leading contenders, the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, have, at different times, engaged in confrontations, with the parties trading accusations over responsibility for the violence. The incidents have prompted repeated calls for campaigns to focus on governance rather than political hostility.

Security agencies have intensified consultations with political actors, while traditional institutions, religious leaders, and civil society groups have continued to urge supporters to embrace peaceful conduct before, during, and after the election.

Leading the call for issue-based campaigns are the APC and its candidate, Oyebamiji, who has consistently urged political parties to market their programmes instead of resorting to intimidation or inflammatory rhetoric. The party argues that the election should enable voters to objectively compare the developmental agendas of the contestants.

Governor Adeleke has equally appealed for peaceful, issue-driven campaigns. Banking on his performance to defeat the opposition parties.

Similarly, an aide to former governor Rauf Aregbesola, Sola Fasure, absolved the ADC candidate and his supporters of responsibility for the violence, insisting that the clashes were between supporters of the incumbent governor and those of Oyebamiji. According to him, “Salaam is campaigning based on issues.”

The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, also urged political parties
and their supporters to conduct campaigns peacefully and in line with the Electoral Act and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking through the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, the commissioner warned that the command would not tolerate acts that could undermine the peace and credibility of the August 15 governorship election.

“My advice to the leadership of all political parties, their members, and supporters is to play politics according to the law and in compliance with INEC regulations. They should play the game according to the rules,” Gotan said.

The growing consensus among stakeholders is that only peaceful, issue-driven campaigns can restore public confidence, increase voter turnout, and ensure that the Osun governorship election strengthens democratic practice.
Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam court voters with competing visions
Although the election has largely been framed around incumbency, zoning, party strength, and political alliances, the manifestos of the three leading candidates reveal contrasting governance philosophies that could shape voter choices.

For many voters, the election may come down to a simple question: should Osun continue on its current path under Adeleke, return to APC leadership under Oyebamiji, or embrace a third-force alternative under Salaam?
Unlike his challengers, Adeleke is campaigning largely on what he describes as a verifiable record of performance. His message revolves around “Imole Agenda 2.0,” an expansion of the five-point development framework that brought him to office in 2022.

His administration claims to have completed over 250 kilometers of roads, with more than 160 kilometers still under construction. The flyover projects in Osogbo and Ile-Ife have become centrepieces of his re-election campaign.

The governor has also highlighted payment of salary and pension arrears, workers’ promotions, improved cooperative financing and efforts to stabilise labour relations. In healthcare, his administration points to the Imole Medical Outreach Programme, expansion of health insurance coverage and investments in primary healthcare centres.

Adeleke has equally projected his government as fiscally responsible through debt reduction, payroll reforms, digital governance, and improvements in internally generated revenue.

For Adeleke, the campaign is less about fresh promises than about convincing voters that ongoing projects deserve another four years to consolidate.

Oyebamiji, on his part, has sought to define his campaign around a seven-point development blueprint christened “PROSPER.” The manifesto presents what the APC flag bearer describes as a comprehensive roadmap to reposition Osun State through economic revival, transparent governance and inclusive development.

The PROSPER agenda begins with Poverty Alleviation, Workers’ Welfare and Job Creation, with a promise to implement targeted social intervention programmes for vulnerable residents, ensure prompt payment of salaries, improve welfare packages for civil servants and create jobs through enterprise support, public works programmes and investment-driven initiatives. The blueprint also pledges economic empowerment schemes targeted at youths and women.

On governance, Oyebamiji promises Responsive, Accountable and Transparent Governance, anchored on open and people-centred leadership. He commits to transparent budgeting, prudent management of public resources, greater accountability in public service delivery, and an administration built on integrity, inclusiveness, and citizen participation.

The third pillar, Opportunities for Economic Growth, focuses on expanding the state’s economy by strengthening small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), empowering entrepreneurs, revitalising the Osun State Investment Promotion Agency and attracting both local and foreign investments.

The APC candidate also proposes reviving strategic economic assets and industrial hubs to stimulate productivity and broaden the state’s revenue base.

Recognising security as a prerequisite for development, the manifesto outlines plans to strengthen collaboration with conventional security agencies while supporting community-based security initiatives. Under the Security, Safety and Social Protection pillar, the blueprint also promises to expand social protection programmes, improve emergency response systems and enhance community safety mechanisms across the state.

Agriculture occupies a central place in the document under Productive Agriculture and Rural Development. The APC candidate proposes the establishment of agro-industrial clusters and modern farm settlements, alongside support for farmers through improved access to technology, training and financing. He also pledges rural infrastructure projects designed to boost agricultural productivity, positioning agriculture as a major driver of Osun’s economic revival.

In the social sector, the Education, Skills Development and Healthcare component promises to modernise educational infrastructure, strengthen technical and vocational education, recruit and train more teachers, and improve healthcare delivery as part of a broader strategy to develop the state’s human capital.

The final pillar, Renewed Infrastructure, Culture and Tourism, focuses on rehabilitating and expanding road networks, improving electricity and water infrastructure, promoting Osun’s tourism potential and cultural heritage, and ensuring that infrastructure development is spread across all local government areas of the state.

According to Oyebamiji, the PROSPER agenda is designed to reposition Osun for “growth, prosperity and abundance” by combining transparent governance with economic revitalisation, infrastructure renewal and inclusive development, which he says will improve the quality of life of residents if elected governor.

A former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Salaam is seeking to position himself as an alternative to both the ruling party and the APC.

His campaign revolves around a 10-point development agenda designed to address what he describes as gaps in governance.

The most ambitious component of his manifesto is the promise to pursue 24-hour electricity through public-private partnerships and alternative energy sources.

In a state where unreliable power supply continues to constrain businesses and economic growth, Salaam has repeatedly argued that sustainable electricity is the foundation upon which industrialisation, job creation and economic expansion can be built.

The ADC candidate has also prioritised prompt payment of salaries and pensions, affordable housing schemes for civil servants, youth empowerment, agricultural expansion and educational reforms.
His agricultural programme includes plans for farm estates across the three senatorial districts aimed at transforming Osun into a regional food-production hub.

In education, Salaam has promised to address teacher shortages, improve learning infrastructure and revive school-feeding programmes.

His campaign has also placed significant emphasis on transparency, accountability and security, themes designed to appeal to voters seeking an alternative to the dominant parties.
Areas of convergence

Despite their differences, the manifestoes reveal considerable overlap. All three candidates acknowledge the need to improve infrastructure, create jobs, strengthen security, support agriculture, and improve workers’ welfare. They also agree on the importance of peaceful elections, even though they differ on implementation strategies.

Interactions with voters across the state suggest that three broad narratives may shape the outcome.

The first is continuity versus change. While some residents believe Adeleke’s ongoing projects deserve continuity, others argue that Osun requires a different leadership approach.

The second is performance versus competence. Adeleke’s supporters point to visible projects and popularity, while Oyebamiji’s camp argues that technical expertise and economic management should take precedence.

The third is whether voters are willing to embrace a third-force option. Salaam’s challenge remains the translation of policy ideas into electoral support in a political environment long dominated by the APC and the PDP.

As campaigns enter their final stretch, the contest is increasingly becoming a referendum on competing visions for Osun’s future.

Adeleke is asking voters to reward continuity and performance. Oyebamiji is offering a technocratic, economically driven alternative under the APC platform, while Salaam is presenting a reform agenda centred on power supply, accountability and institutional renewal.

Beyond the manifestos, the election also carries significant political implications. President Bola Tinubu is expected to be keen on delivering Osun to the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Former governor Rauf Aregbesola, now the National Secretary of the ADC, is equally seeking to reassert his influence in the state’s politics through Salaam’s candidacy.

Governor Adeleke and the influential Adeleke political family are battling to consolidate their hold on power, while the role of former APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore, whose supporters are believed to be drifting towards Adeleke after the APC primary, could also prove consequential.

Whether voters choose continuity, change, or a third-way alternative may ultimately determine not only the winner of the August 15 governorship election but also the political direction of Osun State over the next four years.