APC, Accord, ADC, and permutations ahead of Osun 2026 race

After party primaries ended on December 15, 2025, as set by the INEC, preparations began for the August 8, 2026, off-cycle governorship election in Osun State. Correspondent Toba Adedeji gives an overview of the political contest.

The selection of governorship candidates in Osun State has changed the landscape ahead of the 2026 election. As a result, stakeholders and supporters are now forming alliances and building grassroots support for what looks to be a closely contested race to decide who will lead from the Bola Ige House for the next four years.

Meanwhile, in 2025, major opposition parties in the state, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), began seeking credible candidates to represent them in the election, a move that sparked political stirrings.

APC and emergence of Oyebamiji:

Within the APC, calls grew stronger to zone the governorship ticket to the Osun West Senatorial District, especially if the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, chose not to run again. Political leaders and groups from the district pushed hard for this consideration.

Oyetola later withdrew from the race, which allowed nine aspirants to compete for the party’s governorship ticket.

Those who aspired for the APC ticket include: Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, former Managing Director of NIWA (Ikire, Osun West); Iyiola Omisore, former Deputy Governor (Ile-Ife, Osun East); Prince Dotun Babayemi (Gbongan, Osun West); Benedict Alabi, former Deputy Governor (Ikire, Osun West); Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, insurance magnate (Ile-Oogbo, Osun West); Kunle Adegoke, SAN (Osogbo, Osun Central); Senator Babajide Omoworare (Ile-Ife, Osun East); Dr Mulikat Jimoh, former Osun House of Assembly member (Ikirun, Osun Central); and Babatunde Hareter Oralusi (Ile-Ife, Osun East).

After the screening, only Oyebamiji and Dr Mulikat Jimoh, the only female aspirant, were cleared to contest the primary. This caused tension within the party until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened.

Eventually, a consensus was reached, and Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (popularly known as AMBO) was presented as the APC governorship candidate on December 13, 2025.

Since Oyebamiji became the candidate, the party has experienced some tension. Omisore openly expressed his dissatisfaction, accusing Oyetola of supporting Oyebamiji and utilising party resources to aid him.

Later, party leaders held a reconciliation meeting at Chief Bisi Akande’s home in December 2025. All aspirants were told to join forces within the APC to help the party win. The State Working Committee also encouraged the eight aspirants to unite and work together before the election.

The party said that Oyebamiji’s selection unsettled the ruling party. Through the Director of Media, Chief Kola Olabisi, and APC Chairman Tajudeen Lawal, they praised the aspirants for accepting the result without bitterness.

Lawal also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Akande, Alhaji Oyetola, the Agba Osun Caucus, and other stakeholders whose interventions ensured a seamless primary.

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Olabisi said the peaceful primary proved wrong those who predicted problems and showed the party’s unity. He also said that aspirants who put the party first would be remembered well in the party’s history.

He encouraged party members to work together as a strong, united team in the August 8, 2026, election, aiming to win back power from Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Strengths of the APC:

One of the APC’s main strengths is its unity since losing power in 2022. Except for former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was expelled with his allies for alleged anti-party activities, the party has not lost any major figures to the ruling party.

On the contrary, APC has gained prominent politicians from the PDP, including Senators Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East) and Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central); House of Representatives members, Oluwole Oke, Sanya Omirin, and Taofeek Ajilesoro; and former PDP National Deputy Chairman, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.

The party also boasts influential leaders across the nine federal constituencies, including Senator Ajibola Basiru, APC National Secretary; Engr. Olalekan Badmus in Osogbo; Kayode Oduoye in Ikirun; Oyetola in Iragbiji; Chief Akande and Fadeyi in Ila-Orangun; Babayemi in Gbongan; and Oyebamiji in Ikire.

APC’s weaknesses:

A main concern for the APC is that reconciliation may not be complete, especially with disqualified aspirants like Omisore, who may not fully support the party’s success.

Also, if the party does not choose a strong deputy governorship candidate from important towns like Osogbo or Ile-Ife, its chances could be hurt.

The APC may also face challenges in Ede North and South, Governor Adeleke’s hometown, and in local governments such as Egbedore, Orolu, Iwo, Ayedire, Odo-Otin, and Ola-Oluwa, where the current governor has invested heavily in infrastructure.

Adeleke’s chances:

In the lead-up to its planned primary in 2025, PDP chairman Sunday Bisi said internal problems made it impossible to hold the event. He explained that Governor Adeleke’s participation would depend on whether the crisis was resolved within INEC’s timeline, which shaped the party’s immediate strategy.

Consequently, Adeleke left the PDP for the Accord Party, taking with him members of his cabinet and political appointees. As the only aspirant, he became the Accord Party’s governorship candidate and promised to seek a second term.

Accord’s strengths:

The Accord Party’s main strength lies in its successful merger with the PDP structure. Furthermore, while Adeleke has revived the party, Accord also benefits from its position on the ballot, which comes before the APC.

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Adeleke’s position as governor, his influence in the civil service, focus on workers’ welfare, promotions, and payment of salary arrears have made him more popular. His work on infrastructure in Ede, Ilesa, Osogbo, Ila-Orangun, Iwo, and other areas is also likely to win votes.

Most PDP members remain loyal to Adeleke, and he also has support from Senator Lere Oyewumi, six House of Representatives members, and 23 state lawmakers. This further improves his chances.

Accord’s weaknesses:

A big weakness is that many voters, especially in rural areas, do not know much about the party’s ideology. Many still link Adeleke to the PDP and may not be aware that he has switched parties.

The party’s weak grassroots structure is another challenge, so it must depend on the PDP networks it inherited. Some PDP loyalists may also refuse to back Adeleke because of their loyalty to the party.

Aregbesola’s ADC:

At the same time, former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, now the ADC’s National Secretary, is another key player in the race. He and his allies left the APC in 2025 after being expelled for alleged anti-party activities, adding a new dynamic to the competition.

The ADC has been mobilising support with figures such as former Speaker Najeem Salam, former SSG Moshood Adeoti, Senator Adelere Oriolowo, and former APC chairmen Razaq Salinsile and Adelowo Adebiyi.

However, the ADC faced a setback when Adeoti left, citing dissatisfaction with the group’s internal governance. He left after reports that Salam had been selected as the preferred candidate in a mini-election among the group’s leaders in Lagos, where he received 11 out of 15 votes.

Adeoti’s exit could weaken the ADC due to his political influence and past support for Aregbesola’s victories. Still, Salam became the party’s governorship candidate.

PDP as a potential game-changer:

Even after Adeleke left, the PDP chose Adebayo Adedamola, an ally of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, as its governorship candidate. If INEC accepts this nomination, the PDP could split votes that might have gone to Adeleke, making the race more complicated.