The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming 2026 Osun State governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, has selected Benjamin Adereti as his running mate ahead of the August 15 poll.
Adereti, who contested the 2023 House of Representatives election for Ife Federal Constituency under the APC but lost to Bimbo Ajilesoro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), replaces former Osun State lawmaker, Tunde Olatunji, who had earlier appeared on a previous list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The development was contained in the final list of nominated candidates for the Osun governorship election released by INEC on Wednesday.
Also on the list, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, who is contesting the governorship election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), selected Yemisi Agiri as his running mate.
Meanwhile, the incumbent governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, has retained his current deputy, Kola Adewusi, as his running mate on the platform of the Accord party for the forthcoming election.
INEC’s final list, attached to a letter dated March 4, 2026, and signed by the commission’s Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, outlined the candidates nominated by the 14 political parties cleared to participate in the election.
According to the document, Adeyera Oluwabusola Adesola, 36, emerged as the running mate to the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Adeleke Adewale Taofeek, 52.
Similarly, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Adesuyi Olufemi, 50, will run alongside Abdulsalam Olamide, 35, while the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate, Esan Olamide, 39, selected Bello Muideen Yekeen, 51, as his deputy governorship candidate.
In the letter titled “Forwarding of Final List of Candidates for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election,” the electoral body stated that the approved timetable for the poll fixed March 9, 2026, as the deadline for the publication of the final list of candidates.
“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.
“Find forwarded the Final List of Candidates for publication in line with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026,” the letter read.
INEC confirmed that the Osun State governorship election will take place on August 15, 2026, with 14 political parties cleared to participate.
However, notable political parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) were not listed among those fielding candidates for the election.
