PDP Fails to Field Candidate as Osun Governorship Race Tightens

Osun State – The Peoples Democratic Party will not present a candidate in the August 15 Osun State governorship election, according to the list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, narrowing the field ahead of the closely watched poll.

Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, now contesting under the Accord Party, remains eligible for re election, while the All Progressives Congress has fielded Bola Oyebamiji, Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, as its candidate.

Former Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Najeem Salam, is also in the race, adding to a competitive field as parties intensify campaigns across the state’s local government areas ahead of polling day.

The PDP’s absence from the ballot marks a significant shift in Osun’s political landscape, coming amid the party’s ongoing internal leadership disputes that have affected candidate nominations in multiple states this cycle.

The National Peace Committee has separately flagged 15 local government areas in Osun as high risk for election related violence, with security agencies expected to deploy additional personnel to those areas ahead of the poll.

Candidates are expected to intensify their campaign activities in the coming two weeks as the state heads toward what is shaping up to be a closely contested governorship election.