Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Benedict Alabi, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2026 governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

BOA made the declaration at his residence in Osogbo on Wednesday during a media parley with journalists.

He said his aspiration to contest the Osun governorship race is driven by the desire to serve and lead the state into a new era where governance delivers real impact for citizens, both young and old.

Alabi added that his goal is to make Osun a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Alabi noted that his experience as a deputy governor and acting governor places him above other contenders in the race. He described himself as a visionary leader who is passionate about delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

He dismissed speculations that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, has a preferred candidate, describing such claims as mere insinuations. According to him, the former governor has wished all aspirants success.

The APC chieftain stressed that he has a formidable political structure at the grassroots level to secure victory. He affirmed that he is a unifier within the Osun APC and pledged to do everything possible to ensure the party wins the election.

Noting that election is a collective responsibility, Alabi expressed optimism about clinching the APC governorship ticket, saying the party would rally behind him to guarantee success at the polls.

Highlighting his ten-point agenda, Alabi promised to create 40,000 new jobs, revive the education sector by recruiting 1,500 teachers, and improve infrastructure, healthcare, and security across the state.

He lamented the suffering of rural dwellers caused by poor road networks and pledged to prioritize neglected communities to boost the state’s economy.
BOA also assured urban residents that existing standards in their areas would not be lowered but further improved.

The immediate past deputy governor, who is an indigene of Ikire, Osun West, said he had already sought the approval of strong party stakeholders, disclosing that he and his team would be embarking on public consultations across the local government areas in the state next week Monday.