By Larry Ishola
Oshogbo‘Ila le Tente’ (Ila is unique), a familiar sing-song, forms part of the panegyrics of the Igbomina people of Ila Orangun. Both Ila Orangun and Oke Ila Orangun are vibrant cultural Igbomina towns, as indeed are all Igbomina communities. Ila Orangun lies in the northern axis of Osun State. In recent times, the casual chant Ila le Tente has found its way into the state’s political lexicon, courtesy of erstwhile governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Ogbeni Aregbesola was inexplicably out of the country on Saturday, 16 July 2022, the day of the off-cycle governorship election in Osun State. His party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), was in a fierce battle to secure a second term for its governorship candidate, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, against the marauding forces of the Adeleke dynasty under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Early on Sunday, 17 July, as results began to trickle in from polling centres – showing an early lead for Ademola Adeleke of the PDP – a curious tweet appeared on the former governor’s Twitter account: “Osun le Tente” (Osun is unique).
Bizarrely, the tweet disappeared within minutes, but not before many had caught the humour. Now, four years on, with another off-cycle governorship election in view, Osun is once again in the spotlight.
The race to determine who will occupy the Bola Ige House, Abere, as the seventh Executive Governor of Osun State began with all the trappings of a political soap opera. On 4 June 2025, Dr Deji Adeleke led his younger brother, the incumbent governor, Asiwaju Ademola, and world-renowned Afrobeat artiste, David ‘Davido’ Adeleke, to the Bourdillon Street residence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Sallah 2025 visit was followed by another to Aso Rock. Far from mere courtesy calls, these visits, coming from an opposition family in the PDP, were widely interpreted as politically motivated. Chief Taiwo Olabisi, APC Publicity Secretary in Osun, dismissed them as a “non-issue”, noting that President Tinubu, a grandmaster of partisan politics, would not be unsettled by such manoeuvres.
Earlier, on 4 March 2025, the Adelekes had visited the Ibadan home of Pa Adebisi Akande, the second Executive Governor of Osun, and later his Ila Orangun residence. Focus Magazine gathered from informed sources that these visits revolved around behind-the-scenes scheming ahead of the off-cycle governorship election slated for August 15, 2026.
By 2025, the Adelekes’ party, the PDP, had been severely weakened by internal contradictions dating back to the crises preceding the 2023 general elections. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, having lost out in the party’s internal power tussle, held the party by the jugular. He controlled a plank of the National Executive Committee (NEC), while Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo led another. By mid-2025, members of the Makinde faction began defecting to the ruling APC at the national level. Alarmed, Governor Adeleke began high-level political moves to negotiate a soft landing in the APC, reportedly seeking an automatic governorship ticket in return.
The President, however, was said to have directed them back to Osun to meet Pa Akande. Back home, the Adelekes allegedly met a brick wall: APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashiru (SRJ), and former National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, were said to have firmly opposed their overtures.
At the meetings with Pa Akande, the Adelekes were warmly welcomed but told categorically that the governorship ticket was unavailable. Instead, Ademola Adeleke was offered a senatorial ticket, which his camp rejected. The rejection reportedly forced the Adeleke family to rethink their strategy.
The governor proceeded to collect both the Expression of Interest and Governorship forms of the PDP, attended the screening, but failed to appear at the primary election on December 3. At the congress, one Adebayo Adedamola, known as Fryo, emerged as the PDP’s candidate.
Adeleke immediately announced his defection from the PDP to the Accord Party (AP). The reasons for choosing AP remain unclear, but both the PDP and AP are now said to be working hand-in-hand in the state.
On 15 August, Osun’s 1,989,855 registered voters will head to the polls to either renew the mandate of Governor Nurudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke or elect another candidate to steer the state for the next four years.
This year’s off-cycle election, one of the most hotly debated in recent memory, pits incumbent Asiwaju Ademola Adeleke, Asiwaju of Ede land, against another Asiwaju – Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of Ikire.
As in previous cycles since the Fourth Republic began, the contest will be intense. Voters have already indicated readiness: during INEC’s revised voter registration exercise in January 2026, Osun led the entire country with 208,357 new registrations.
The election is widely regarded as a two-horse race between Adeleke (PDP/AP) and Oyebamiji (APC). A dark horse, however, exists: Hon. Nojeem Bello of the ADC, former Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly, backed by former governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
All three leading parties are battling internal crises. The APC is still healing from a contentious screening and adoption process. The AP/PDP coalition is split between original members and new decampees led by the Adeleke clan. The ADC is in turmoil following a court ruling removing Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Aregbesola as party chairman and secretary.
Despite the advantages of incumbency, Governor Adeleke remains under intense scrutiny. His political journey, though short, has been fraught with controversy—from allegations of academic forgery to internal party rifts. His 2018 run was marred by legal battles over claims that he submitted a forged school testimonial and certificate. Although the court dismissed the suit, witnesses testified that they had never seen him in the examination hall.
His narrow loss to Oyetola in 2018 and eventual victory in 2022 were shaped by shifting political alliances. In 2022, the APC’s split between Oyetola’s camp and The Original Progressives (TOP) inspired by Aregbesola, proved decisive, with TOP throwing its weight behind Adeleke.
Today, however, Adeleke faces allegations from the same groups that helped him win: charges of nepotism, “Edenisation” of government appointments, and financial recklessness. Critics cite lopsided teacher recruitment, claiming that Ede indigenes dominate the newly hired 7,000 teachers.
On the APC side, unresolved grievances surrounding Senator Iyiola Omisore’s disqualification could undermine the party’s fortunes. Omisore, from the same Osun East Senatorial District as Aregbesola, had his ambitions cut short and is reportedly furious. Analysts argue that his candidacy, had it stood, might have been politically insensitive, but the fallout is nonetheless significant.
Bola Oyebamiji, born in Ikire (Osun West Senatorial District), is a seasoned banker and investment expert. Appointed MD/CEO of Osun State Investment Company by Aregbesola in 2012, he later served twice as Commissioner for Finance—under both Aregbesola and Oyetola. Following Oyetola’s appointment as Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Oyebamiji became Special Adviser, and was later appointed MD/CEO of the National Inland Waterways Authority under President Tinubu.
The third force, Alhaji Nojeem Salaam of the ADC, has long been active in Osun politics. His emergence pushed the popular Alhaji Moshood Adeoti ‘Shehu’ out of the ADC and into the Adeleke-aligned AP/PDP.
As August 15 approaches, narratives abound about the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. A constant theme, however, is the influence of the Presidency—and whom President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will support. Despite Adeleke’s repeated attempts to align himself with the President, including public endorsements, President Tinubu has openly endorsed Munirudeen Oyebamiji, his party’s candidate.
Key issues dominating public discourse include the controversial half-salary policy of the Aregbesola era, alleged nepotism in state appointments, and criticisms of the quality of infrastructure projects under Adeleke.
Thus, when Osun’s nearly two million voters file out on 15 August, they will weigh not only past and present performance but also the pedigree and political baggage of each candidate and their sponsors. Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) confronts questions about his stewardship as Commissioner for Finance; Mr Nojeem Bello must answer for the legacy of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; and Governor Adeleke must defend his administration against allegations of parochialism and mismanagement.
The race continues – Osun le Tente indeed.
