Fifteen candidates are contesting the Osun governorship election on Saturday, 15 August 2026, as voters in the state’s 30 local government areas cast ballots to choose the next governor, with 2.3 million registered voters eligible to participate in the poll conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The election began with accreditation and voting at 8:30 a.m. after election materials started arriving at polling locations from 7:00 a.m. At least 1.9 million residents are expected to take part in the exercise.
The contest has also placed several candidates’ own polling units under public interest, including that of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salam.
Candidates vote as polling units record early activity
Adeleke, who is seeking another term under the Accord Party, arrived at Abogunde Comprehensive 009, Ward 02, Abogunde Sagba, Ede North, at 8:36 a.m. He completed accreditation and cast his ballot at 9:10 a.m.
The governor’s participation came shortly after polling opened across the state. His polling unit was among locations where voters took part in the governorship contest on election day.
At Iroyin Ayo Open Space Polling Unit 013, Elejigbo D/Elejemo Ward in Ejigbo Local Government Area, agents at the polling unit of ADC candidate Najeem Salam raised a procedural issue before voting began.
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The agents wanted presiding officers to count all ballot papers before voting started. The presiding officers said carrying out the full count could delay the commencement of the exercise.
The unit has 594 registered voters and serves as Salam’s polling location.
Activity was also recorded at polling units before accreditation started. At Sabo Agbongbe II, Ward 7, Polling Units 001 and 011 in Ede Local Government Area, voting cubicles and other election materials had been arranged by 7:50 a.m.
Polling officers were preparing for the exercise as voters waited. Some residents checked their names on the voters’ register displayed at the locations.
At Egbedore Ward, Abogunde Primary School polling unit, voters gathered before accreditation and voting. Similar activity took place at Unit 7, Oke-Oja, Osogbo, where INEC personnel prepared the polling unit for voters.
The early turnout occurred before the formal start of accreditation and voting. Voters had gathered at several locations as election workers arranged materials and prepared polling points.
INEC’s distribution of election materials began from 7:00 a.m., allowing polling locations to be set up before the scheduled start of voting.
The Osun election is being conducted in all 30 local government areas. The 15 candidates are competing for the governorship seat in a poll involving 2.3 million registered voters.
With voting already under way, the early activities have included ballot preparation, voter accreditation, register checks and participation by candidates at their own polling units. The process also recorded a procedural disagreement at one of the polling locations before voting commenced.
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