- Safiu Kehinde
After weeks of campaigns by political parties with several dramas and online blame games by different political actors, Osun state indigenes and residents are less than 24 hours away to do the real talking at the polling units with their voters’ cards and thumb prints to decide which party will win the bragging rights at the 2026 Governorship Election in the state.
With all parties ending their political campaigns yesterday, the fate of their candidates now lies in the hands of the electorate who are due to hit their respective polling units on Saturday, 15th of August, to cast their votes and elect the next governor to serve them for the next four years. The incumbent governor and Accord Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke, had repeatedly charged the electorates to use his administration’s work in the last four years as yardstick to vote for him as he seeks re-election.
On the other hand, his oppositions have thrown themselves at the face of Osun people as better options. The All Progressives Congress, APC, seeks to take back the helm of affairs in the state through its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, while the African Democratic Congress’ candidate, Najeem Salaam, had thrusted himself forward as the peacemaker who can restore peace and normalcy in a state which had over the past months witnessed series of political violence with dozens of killings.
12 other political parties also queued behind these three major contenders, each posing, in the respective capacity, as parties to also watch out for with the potential of causing major upset to the big contenders. With several reports of political tension and unrest across the state overshadowing basic information ahead of the poll, NPO Reports presents facts and figures essential for the monitoring of the 2026 Osun Governorship Election.
General Population vs Voting Population
According to City Population, with reference to the National Bureau of Statistics, the total number of inhabitants of Osun state as of 2022 is estimated at 4,435,800. However, out of this figure, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in July, announced that there are 2,339,233 total number of registered voters.
The statistics showed that Osogbo Local Government with the highest number of registered voters, at 167,704, followed by Ife-East Local Government with 128,515 and Olorunda Local Government with 123,063.
Ife-Central has 122,454 voters; Iwo has 106,814 voters; Ede-North is fifth with 96,644 voters; Irewole and Ifelodun local governments have 96,528 and 94,870, respectively; Ilesa-East and Ilesa-West follow with 89,491 and 86,699 voters; Oriade local government has 84,238, while Odo-Otin and Boripe local governments have 82,574 and 81,067, respectively.
The local governments with the three lowest registered voters are Ifedayo with 28,361, Boluwaduro with 29,797, and Atakumosa-West with 44,076.
1.9 million PVCs to Decide Fate of 4.4 million People
However, in an update on the figure, INEC would on Wednesday announced that only a total of 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards PVCs, representing 81.50 per cent of registered voters, have been collected across Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
This was announced by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee at INEC, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
According to Mohammed, out of the 2,339,233 registered voters in Osun State, the remaining 426,842 PVCs, representing 18.50 per cent, have not been collected and have been safely deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria, in line with the Commission’s established practice.
INEC further disclosed that some voters whose PVCs were damaged, defaced, or lost applied for replacement cards, with 6,101 of those applicants successfully printing downloadable copies of their PVCs.
Osun Political Gladiators and their Polling Units
While there are 30 Local Government Areas in Osun State with 332 Wards and 3,763 Polling Units, some of these polling units would on Saturday be hosting several political gladiators in the state as candidates, former governors, incumbent elected officials, and political appointees return to their hometowns to vote. Coupled with the presence of election observers these polling units will also enjoy coverage by media. Some of the polling units to lookout for with the political actors expected to cast their votes there include
- Accord Party’s candidate and incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke- PU009, Sagba/Abogunde Ward 2, Ede North Local Government Area.
- APC’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji- PU 003, Atile, Ikire Ward 9, Irewole Local Government Area
- ADC’s candidate, Najeem Salam- PU006, Oke Odo/Ilepeju 1, Ward 4, Ejigbo Local Government Area.
- ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola- PU001, Ward 8, Isare Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area
- Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola- PU10, Ward 1, LA School, Popo, Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area
- Former Deputy Governor, Iyiola Omisore — PU003 Yemoo Ward, Moore, Ife East Local Government Area
- Dr Adedeji Adeleke — PU10, Alajue, Ward 4, Ede South Local Government Area
- Former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola- PU003, Oba Ojomu, Ward 1, Odo-Otin Local Government Area
- APC National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru- PU 003, Ward 7, Osogbo Local Government Area.