The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Oyebamiji, has selected Benjamin Adereti as his running mate for the 2026 governorship election in Osun State.
The decision was made ahead of the election scheduled to take place on August 15, 2026, as political parties prepare for the poll.
Adereti previously contested for the House of Representatives seat for Ife Federal Constituency during the 2023 general election under the platform of the APC.
He did not win the seat after losing to Bimbo Ajilesoro, who contested at the time under the Peoples Democratic Party.
With the new development, Adereti replaces former state lawmaker Tunde Olatunji, whose name had earlier appeared as Oyebamiji’s running mate in a previous list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The update came after the electoral body released the final list of candidates and their running mates for the upcoming Osun governorship election.
The list was contained in a document signed by the Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
The document was dated March 4, 2026 and was sent out for public notice in line with the timetable for the election.
The list also revealed that the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress and former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, selected Yemisi Agiri as his running mate. Agiri is one of the few female deputy governorship candidates listed for the election.
Meanwhile, the current governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, who is contesting the election under the platform of the Accord Party, decided to keep his present deputy, Kola Adewusi, as his running mate for the poll.
Other political parties also submitted the names of their candidates and deputies. The New Nigeria Peoples Party presented Adeleke Adewale Taofeek as its governorship candidate, with 36-year-old Adeyera Oluwabusola Adesola named as his running mate.
The Zenith Labour Party listed Adesuyi Olufemi as its candidate, while Abdulsalam Olamide was chosen as his deputy.
In the African Action Congress, Esan Olamide is the governorship candidate, with Bello Muideen Yekeen selected as his running mate for the election.
According to the electoral commission, the publication of the final list of candidates follows the approved timetable and schedule of activities for the 2026 Osun governorship election.
The timetable set March 9, 2026 as the deadline for the release of the final list of nominated candidates by the commission.
Reports show that a total of 14 political parties have been cleared by the electoral body to participate in the governorship election in Osun State.
However, some major parties are not presenting candidates for the contest, including the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party.
The governorship election is expected to take place across the state on August 15, 2026 as voters decide who will lead the state for the next term.