2026: Alignment and Realignment in Osun

As Osun state moves towards another election year, there are already indications that the journey will be interesting, this is as political actors are beginning to form new alliances, create new blocs within different parties.

What appears like a renewal of battle, is the re-entry of former Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola into the political space.

Aregbesola after joining camps with Nasir Elrufai, Atiku Abubakar to form a coalition which later adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) later emerged as National Secretary of the party and thereby making him the leader of the party in the state.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had in 2024 suspended Aregbesola from the party stating through a letter written

The alleged him of factionalizing the APC by forming the Omoluabi Caucus splinter group; allegedly collaborating with opposition parties to destabilize the APC in Osun State; publicly criticizing party leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, and former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola; refusing to participate in or support APC activities within the state; and refusing to vote for the party since the 2019 general elections.

Aregbesola in response said he never left the APC but that the party left him.

He said, “The week we created the Omoluabi group, we were dragged to court and warned not to use the name of the party I helped build with my sweat. Eventually, we were expelled. I never left APC, the party left me.”

Now that Aregbesola is back to the Osun state government election scenario, it is unclear yet who the candidate of ADC in 2026 will be but sources revealed that the party might cede the ticket to the west, leaving the one time SSG, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and the one time Speaker of Osun Assembly, Rt Hon. Najeem Salam in the ring.

Osun Spring notes that while it is clear that the ADC will not be aligning with APC in any way but is unclear if there would be no alliance between the PDP and ADC or even between Governor Ademola Adeleke and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Although recent statements by Governor Adeleke have said that he will not be joining APC, the Governor and the PDP in Osun have systemically endorsed President Tinubu for a second term in office which is raising further questions by citizens of the state. We are not sure what that will birth in Osun, especially after the 2026 Governorship Election.

Osun Spring urges all political leaders and followers to ensure that as we approach the election season, there is no campaign of calumny, spreading of fake news or abuse of the social media space.

We also call security agencies in the state to ensure adequate protection of lives and properties, while staying professional and fair to all parties throughout this election period.

We call on politicians to put Osun and its people first in whatever decision or steps they’ll take in order for Osun people to keep enjoying the relative peace it always had, making it boast as the “most peaceful state in Nigeria”.