Osun Election: Oyebamiji Declares Himself Incoming Governor

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji has declared himself the incoming governor of Osun State, expressing confidence in his chances of defeating incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke and other candidates at Saturday’s election.

Also read: Adeleke Accuses APC of Destroying Campaign Billboards

Oyebamiji made the declaration during the ARISE News governorship town hall in Osogbo, just four days before voters across the state are due to elect a governor for the next four-year term.

The televised event brought leading candidates together to present their programmes and make their case to voters ahead of the August 15 poll.

Speaking about his political ambition, Oyebamiji said his journey had brought him to Osun with the conviction that he would eventually lead the state.

“My journey and my destiny which I have a pact with took me to Osun as the incoming governor of Osun State,” Oyebamiji said.

The APC candidate said his approach to governance would be centred on the welfare of the entire population rather than particular regions, communities or political interests.

“Governance is about people and not about segments, it’s not about an area, a city, it’s the entire people of Osun that I want to serve,” he said.

Oyebamiji placed the welfare and security of residents at the centre of his campaign, arguing that a new administration should focus on addressing the economic pressures facing households across the state.

He promised to tackle hunger and poverty while placing greater emphasis on agriculture, education and healthcare.

“We want to banish hunger, poverty, and I want to invest seriously on agriculture, education, and health,” he said.

The APC candidate also highlighted human capital development as an important part of his proposed administration.

He said the welfare and development of Osun residents would receive greater attention if he wins the election.

“Apart from that, our human asset is very important to us. We are going to look at their welfare, capital development is very important and these are the things that I’m bringing on board,” Oyebamiji said.

His comments came as the Osun election entered its final stretch, with political parties intensifying their campaigns and the leading candidates making their final appeals to voters.

Fourteen candidates are listed for the August 15 election, although the contest has increasingly been viewed as a battle among three leading candidates: Oyebamiji of the APC, Adeleke of the Accord Party and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Adeleke is seeking a second term after winning the 2022 governorship election.

The incumbent has campaigned on his record in office while portraying the coming election as a choice between his administration and the opposition’s alternative.

Oyebamiji, meanwhile, has positioned himself as the candidate capable of returning the APC to power in the state.

The APC’s campaign has received backing from prominent party figures, including former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola, who has urged voters to support the party’s candidate.

Oyetola, who is now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has also criticised Adeleke’s reliance on political endorsements and argued that such support would not prevent the APC from defeating the incumbent.

Oyebamiji has also been courting younger voters. At a recent engagement with youths in Osogbo, he promised to place young people at the centre of decision-making through political inclusion, the creative economy, youth development and sports.

The focus on young people reflects the broader campaign battle over employment, economic opportunity and the future of Osun’s human capital.

For Oyebamiji, however, the immediate challenge is converting his confidence into votes.

The APC candidate’s declaration that he is already the “incoming governor” is a political statement made before the electorate has cast its ballots.

The final outcome will depend on voter turnout, the performance of the competing campaigns and the credibility of the electoral process on August 15.

The election is being held against a backdrop of heightened political competition in Osun.

Recent reports have described the contest between Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Salaam as increasingly competitive, despite the presence of 14 candidates on the ballot.

The final days of the campaign are therefore expected to remain intense as the three leading contenders seek to consolidate their support across the state’s 30 local government areas.

For Oyebamiji, his message is built around a promise of change, stronger investment in key sectors and a government focused on the welfare of ordinary residents.

Agriculture, education and healthcare are central to that promise, while security and human capital development form another important part of his proposed agenda.

The APC candidate’s confidence will now face its most important test at the ballot box.

With voters scheduled to choose their next governor on Saturday, August 15, Oyebamiji’s declaration that he is the “incoming governor” remains a campaign prediction rather than an established outcome.

Also read: Adeleke Accuses APC of Destroying Campaign Billboards

The election will determine whether Osun voters agree with that prediction and hand the APC candidate the mandate he says his political journey has prepared him to receive.