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The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, has picked Benjamin Adereti as his running mate for the 2026 governorship election.
Adereti was the party’s candidate for the Ife Federal Constituency seat in the 2023 House of Representatives election but lost to Bimbo Ajilesoro, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He replaces former state lawmaker Tunde Olatunji, whose name had appeared on an earlier list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
On the final list released by INEC on Wednesday, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, who is contesting on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, named Yemisi Agiri as his running mate.
The incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, will contest on the platform of the Accord Party and has retained his current deputy, Kola Adewusi, as his running mate.
In the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Adeleke Adewale Taofeek, 52, listed 36-year-old Adeyera Oluwabusola Adesola as his running mate.
The Zenith Labour Party candidate, Adesuyi Olufemi, 50, named Abdulsalam Olamide, 35, as his running mate.
Similarly, 39-year-old Esan Olamide of the African Action Congress (AAC) selected Bello Muideen Yekeen, 51, as his running mate.
In a letter dated March 4, 2026, and signed by the INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the commission forwarded the final list of candidates nominated by the 14 political parties cleared for the election.
The letter, titled “Forwarding of Final List of Candidates for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election,” stated: “The approved timetable and schedule of activities for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election has the 9th day of March, 2026, as the last day for publication of the final list of nominated candidates.”
It added, “Find forwarded the final list of candidates for publication in line with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled to hold on August 15, 2026, with 14 political parties cleared by INEC to participate, while notable parties without candidates include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).
