The August 15, 2026 governorship election in Osun State presents Nigeria with a question that goes far beyond who occupies the Government House in Osogbo: Does political power truly belong to the people, or can it be determined by incumbency, money, federal influence and political machinery?
This is why the election matters.
Osun is not merely conducting another off-cycle governorship poll. It is staging a test of Nigeria’s democratic maturity and the ability of its electoral institutions to protect the constitutional right of citizens to choose their leaders freely.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salam have crisscrossed the state’s 30 local government areas and 332 wards, canvassing for votes and presenting their visions to the electorate.
The campaigns may be filled with rallies, endorsements, defections and political calculations, but beneath all of these lies the most important issue: Will the people of Osun be allowed to decide?
That question deserves serious attention amid concerns over alleged federal influence in the election.
President Bola Tinubu’s comment that “all is fair in politics” has attracted considerable attention, particularly because his party, the APC, is seeking to wrest control of Osun from the incumbent.
There is nothing wrong with political parties deploying their legitimate political resources to win elections. A president is entitled to support his party, just as governors and other political leaders are entitled to campaign for candidates of their choice.
But democracy draws a firm line between political support and abuse of public power.
Not everything is fair in politics.
Intimidating opponents is not fair. Using security agencies to influence voters is not fair. Manipulating electoral officials is not fair. Vote buying and voter suppression are not fair.Preventing citizens from freely exercising their franchise is an assault on democracy.
Governor Adeleke has accused the APC of planning to deploy “federal might” during the election, an allegation the party has rejected.
Whether these accusations are ultimately proven or not, they underline the need for the electoral and security institutions to operate with exceptional neutrality.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must know that the credibility of the Osun election will extend beyond Osun.
Every polling unit must function properly. Electoral materials must arrive on time. Officials must be impartial. Votes must be accurately recorded and results transparently collated.
Most importantly, every legitimate complaint must have access to a lawful and credible process for redress.
The security agencies also have a critical role to play. Their responsibility is not to deliver victory to any candidate. Their responsibility is to protect voters, electoral officials and the integrity of the process.
Their presence should give citizens confidence to vote—not create fear that voting for the wrong candidate could attract consequences.
For Adeleke, the election is an opportunity for Osun voters to assess his administration. His campaign for continuity must be judged against his record in office, not merely the popularity of his political structure.
For Oyebamiji, the task is to convince voters that an APC administration under his leadership would offer something better. Being endorsed by the President may strengthen his campaign, but it cannot substitute for the people’s mandate.
For Salam and the other contestants, the same principle applies. They must win support through persuasion, policies and credibility—not through intimidation or manipulation.
Nigeria has struggled for decades to build elections in which the voter, rather than the political godfather, determines the outcome.
The country cannot afford to return to an era in which election results are effectively determined before voters arrive at polling units.
Osun must resist that temptation
The state has an opportunity to show that elections can be fiercely contested without being violently contested; that political influence can be exercised without abusing state institutions; and that power can change hands peacefully through the ballot.
The candidates should fight hard for votes. They should scrutinise one another’s records, expose weaknesses and offer credible alternatives.
But when the campaigns end and the people stand before the ballot box, the voter must become the most powerful political actor in Osun.
Not the President.
Not the governor.
Not the minister.
Not the party chairman.
Not the political godfather.
The voter
And when the votes are counted, the verdict of the people must be respected.
In Osun on August 15, let the ballot speak—and let power listen.
