With less than 24 hours to Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, the contest took a decisive turn as candidates of smaller parties stepped aside to pitch tents with the two frontline parties, while the All Progressives Congress and Accord ramped up final mobilisation across the state.
Two governorship candidates publicly announced their withdrawal and endorsed leading contenders.
Adebayo Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement said he was dropping his ambition to support the re-election of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, Adewale said the decision followed “deep reflection and extensive consultation with party leaders, supporters and stakeholders.”
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“I, Adebayo Simon Adewale, the governorship candidate of Allied Peoples Movement in Osun governorship election 2026, have decided to withdraw from the Osun State governorship election,” he said. “Having carefully assessed the situation, I believe Governor Ademola Adeleke deserves another term to consolidate the progress of his administration.”
He urged APM members to vote for Adeleke, arguing that the interest of Osun should come before personal ambition.
In a separate gathering also held in Osogbo, the APGA candidate, Prince Adesina Adeyemi-Doro, declared support for the APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji.
“I am here today to declare publicly to the good people of Osun State our allegiance, support, and collaboration as we join His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, and the All Progressives Congress,” Adeyemi-Doro said.
He added that after consultations with the state chairman, secretary and other senior members, “we have reached an alignment. At the end of the day, we are all progressives.”
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The defections came as the APC and Accord launched door-to-door drives and town-hall meetings in Osogbo, Ilesa, Iwo and Ede on Thursday, targeting undecided voters ahead of the August 15 poll.
Party sources said PDM stakeholders in the state also met on Thursday and resolved to align with one of the frontline parties, further narrowing the field.
With APM and APGA candidates now out of the race, attention has shifted to how their structures will swing votes between Adeleke and Oyebamiji in what is expected to be a tight contest.
