Osun Election: Meet the candidates, their strengths, weakness

Osun State in Nigeria is on the cusp of a governorship election, with 2,339,233 registered residents set to cast their ballots on August 15. Fifteen political parties and their candidates are vying for the top position, but the race is largely focused on the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and his main challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Adeleke is campaigning for re-election on the back of his "five-point agenda reloaded" and highlighting his administration's achievements in infrastructure development across the state's three senatorial districts. His campaign appears to be bolstered by significant support from civil servants and the leadership of major labor unions, including the NLC, TUC, and JNC, who have publicly endorsed his bid. Additionally, Adeleke seems to enjoy the backing of some traditional rulers, notably the Ataoja of Osogbo, who has declared support despite potential resistance from within his subjects.

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Candidates in the race include Governor Ademola Adeleke (Accord Party), Farinloye Olarenwaju (Action Alliance), Esan Olajide (African Action Congress, AAC); Najeem Salaam (African Democratic Congress, ADC); Adeagbo Opawoye (African Democratic Party, ADP), Mustapha Adeniyi, Social Democratic Party, (SDP) and Bola Oyebamiji (All Progressives Congress, APC).

The Accord Party itself has seen a surge in popularity, reportedly becoming more prominent than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through which Adeleke originally won the governorship. Meanwhile, Bola Oyebamiji of the APC is presenting his platform as the 'Prosperity agenda.' Another candidate, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has also launched a manifesto outlining a 10-point agenda. The election is set to be a key contest, with candidates intensifying their final campaign efforts to sway voters in the remaining days.

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While Governor Adeleke hinged his re-election campaign on his five-point agenda reloaded, his rival, Mr Bola Oyebamiji of APC, tagged his manifesto as ‘Prosperity agenda’.