Voting in the 2026 Osun State governorship election has recorded a significant turnout across the state, with major political actors, including Governor Ademola Adeleke, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, casting their ballots at different polling units.
The election, being held across the state’s 30 local government areas, features 15 candidates vying to occupy the Osun State Government House for the next four years. While voting has generally been peaceful in several areas, reports of delays in the arrival of electoral officials and an alleged attack on the polling unit of an opposition candidate have raised concerns in some locations.
Governor Adeleke, who is seeking a second term, arrived at his polling unit at Saagba/Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9, at about 8:30 a.m., accompanied by his wives. After completing the accreditation process conducted by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he cast his ballot and appealed to voters to exercise their rights peacefully.
Adeleke urged political parties and their supporters to avoid intimidation and violence, stressing that voters should be allowed to freely choose their preferred candidates. His deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, also voted at Ward 1, Olode, in Ife East Local Government Area and expressed confidence that the Accord Party would emerge victorious.
However, Adewusi raised concerns over the uneven arrival of INEC officials at some polling units. According to him, while electoral personnel arrived early in some locations, others experienced delays that affected the commencement of voting. Despite the logistical concerns, he maintained that the Accord Party had built strong grassroots support. “We are on the ground. What do you expect me to say? We are winning,” he said.
On the APC side, Oyebamiji cast his vote at Unit 11, Ward 9, Open Space Gantry in Ikire, where he commended INEC officials, security personnel and voters for what he described as a positive start to the election. He said the large turnout demonstrated that voters were not intimidated, while expressing confidence that he would emerge victorious.
Oyebamiji, however, called on security agencies to remain proactive following concerns about possible violence in Ikire. His comments came against the backdrop of the reported arrest of an Accord lawmaker, Abiola Ibrahim, and 146 suspected electoral mercenaries in the area. The APC candidate said he trusted the police and other relevant authorities to investigate the matter and perform their duties professionally.
Former Governor Oyetola also voted at Ward 1, Unit 10, Iragbiji, in Boripe Local Government Area, at about 10:30 a.m., alongside his wife, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola. The APC leader in the state commended the voter turnout and expressed confidence in Oyebamiji, urging all political parties and their supporters to remain peaceful and allow the votes to determine the winner.
The APC deputy governorship candidate, Kayode Adereti, who voted at Ward 11, Unit 3, Ilare, in Ife Central, offered a similarly positive assessment, praising the security arrangements, voter turnout and performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). “The turnout is impressive, and the security is perfect. The BVAS is working well, and everyone is happy here,” he said.
The otherwise competitive exercise was, however, marred by an alleged act of violence involving the polling unit of African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam. Suspected political thugs reportedly destroyed the candidate’s polling unit at Ward 4, Unit 13. The incident, alongside concerns over delayed INEC deployment in some areas, has added a tense dimension to an election that has otherwise witnessed strong voter participation and heavy security presence.
As voting continues, attention is now turning to the closing of polls, counting and collation of results, with political parties and their supporters expected to maintain restraint and allow the electoral process to run its course. The central question remains whether the strong voter turnout witnessed across Osun will translate into a peaceful conclusion and an outcome that reflects the choice of the electorate.
