The race for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Osun State ahead of the 2026 election has drawn a field of nine aspirants, each bringing different backgrounds, ambitions and campaign narratives.
All have submitted their Expression of Interest and Nomination forms ahead of the party’s primary scheduled for 13 December 2025.
Here are the profiles of the nine contenders:
1. Iyiola Omisore
Among the contestants is Iyiola Omisore, a former Deputy Governor of Osun and a former Senator for Osun East, who recently returned to the APC fold.
Iyiola Omisore was born on 15 September 1957 in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Before entering full-time politics, he trained as an engineer and worked professionally, including on significant engineering and infrastructure projects.
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He later established his own consultancy and electrical-engineering firm.
Because of that technical and professional background, Omisore often presents himself as someone with both administrative and technical competence.
When Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, Omisore became the Deputy Governor of Osun State under Governor Adebisi Akande.
During that period, he was regarded as a technocrat, bringing to the table his engineering background and an approach more associated with governance and development than mere political patronage.
However, that tenure was marred by a major political crisis. In 2002, he was removed as deputy governor in relation to allegations concerning the murder of the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige (December 2001).
Omisore was later discharged and acquitted in that case.
Despite the controversy, his early political career reflects a rise from technocratic professional into the politics of governance, showing both opportunity and peril.
After his tenure as deputy governor, Omisore stood for the Senate in 2003 and was elected to represent Osun East.
Despite being under trial (in the Bola Ige case), he won the election, making him perhaps the first Nigerian politician to win a senatorial seat while detained.
He was reelected in 2007, and during his time in the Senate, he held various strategic committee assignments. Portfolio includes committees on Appropriations, Police Affairs, Housing, Culture & Tourism and Aviation, among others.
Omisore’s political journey over the years has involved several party shifts:
He started in 1999 under the banner of Alliance for Democracy (AD), as deputy governor under Akande.
By 2003, for his election to the Senate, he ran under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
After years in PDP (including contesting the 2014 governorship election on PDP’s platform), he left the party in 2018 amid internal disputes and ran for governor that year on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In February 2021, Omisore formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), registering as a member at his polling unit in Moore, Ile-Ife, along with thousands of his supporters.
When he joined APC, he cited alignment with the party’s direction and the performance of the party’s administration in Osun as reasons for his decision.
Since defecting, his relationship with APC leadership has been formalised: he was welcomed by senior figures in the state, including the state deputy governor and party leadership, implying a strategic rapprochement.
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In October 2025, he officially declared his intention to run for the 2026 Osun governorship under the APC, signalling that his defection is part of a longer-term political recalibration rather than a temporary alliance.
Now, with him declaring for the 2026 governorship under APC, his long road through different offices and party positions him as a formidable aspirant, but also one whose record (both professional and political) will come under renewed scrutiny by opponents and voters alike.
2. Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (“AMBO”)
Oyebamiji is the current Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
Before that, he was Commissioner for Finance in Osun State, and earlier had been involved in business via banking and private enterprise (including a stint as head of a holding company, in reports described as former managing director/CEO of a holdings company prior to NIWA appointment).
He formally declared his intention to run for the Osun governorship under the APC.
His base appears to include large segments of the party’s grassroots and local government structures; his campaign reportedly toured all 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and an Area Office (in Ife-East) as part of consultation.
Oyebamiji positions himself as a “technocrat and public-service manager,” promising inclusive governance, economic renewal, and particularly emphasising agriculture as the cornerstone of his envisioned administration. He has stated that agriculture will be central to Osun’s revival, and also pledged to support SMEs, rural development, and broader economic transformation.
Important for his candidacy, the party’s apex elders’ council in Osun (Igbimo Agba Osun) has “unanimously endorsed” him as their preferred candidate for the governorship ticket.
Also, several former lawmakers (state and national) have reportedly declared support for him, meaning he has backing from both grassroots and the political establishment within the party.
Given these attributes, many political observers consider Oyebamiji as a front-runner, especially if the elders’ endorsement translates into a “consensus” candidacy.
3. Babatunde Hareter Oralusi
Oralusi is described in media coverage as a “development financier,” broadly a private-sector / financial-investment profile, rather than a career politician.
He is among the nine aspirants formally contesting for the APC ticket for 2026.
His appeal lies in being an “outsider” in a field dominated by career politicians and ex-office holders. He seems to pitch himself as a technocratic, business-oriented alternative, someone who could bring private-sector efficiency, development funding and fresh ideas.
For party members and voters disillusioned with traditional politics, his relative newness, financial independence, and private-sector credentials may be attractive. As the broader contest includes many ex-public servants, Oralusi offers a contrast.
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4. Dotun Babayemi (Babs)
Babayemi is a legal practitioner and formerly a political figure in a different party.
He has purchased APC nomination and expression-of-interest forms to contest the 2026 governorship ticket.
In recent public statements, Babayemi has argued that the selection of the APC governorship candidate should not be about zoning or internal rotation but about capacity to govern. He has urged for unity among party aspirants, saying that whichever candidate emerges should expect the support of all.
By framing his ambition as above “zone politics”, he seems to target party members and delegates, prioritising competence and governance over sectional or ethnic calculations, possibly appealing to moderates and reform-oriented members.
However, compared with better-known figures, his public profile appears lower, and it’s unclear how much grassroots or elite support he commands.
5. Benedict Olugboyega Alabi
Alabi served as Deputy Governor of Osun State to former governor Gboyega Oyetola, making him a former member of the state’s executive leadership.
He also has private-sector/business interests, Western Post
He pitches himself as a continuity candidate, someone with recent executive experience who can take over and “hit the ground running.”
Given his prior role as deputy governor, he may emphasise governance stability, institutional memory and administrative competence.
Potential strengths and constraints: His direct experience in state administration may appeal to voters who prefer familiarity and continuity. But in a field crowded with many former office-holders and technocrats, the challenge may be distinguishing himself, especially when others offer reformist or technocratic credentials.
6. Dr Akinade Akanmu Ogunbiyi
Ogunbiyi is the Chairman of one of Nigeria’s big insurance companies. He is described as a businessman and insurance-industry executive.
Historically, he contested previous elections (under a different party/platform) before aligning with the APC.
According to his 2025 declaration, he formally joined APC (defected to the party) before declaring for the governorship ticket.
He has declared his ambition and embarked on consultations with party leaders across local governments. His Iwo-based constituency (Ayedire / Iwo / Ola-Oluwa) endorsed his candidacy via a formal communique.
Also, some traditional rulers (notably a major monarch in Iwoland) publicly backed him at a palace visit, underlining his support among certain local/traditional power blocs.
Ogunbiyi casts his candidacy around industrialisation, youth employment, economic renewal, and economic independence.
He promises to re-engineer Osun’s economy away from being “civil-servant/state-dependent” to one driven by entrepreneurship, industry, agriculture, and private-sector investment.
He also committed to education support, awarding full scholarships to 20 Osun students under a foundation linked to him.
In interviews, he has said that if he is not picked as a candidate, he will “hold no grudges,” signalling willingness to accept the internal party outcome and support the eventual candidate, which may appeal to APC elders looking for a “unifier.”
Thus, Ogunbiyi emerges as a candidate combining private-sector success, grassroots/traditional support, and a reformist-economic narrative likely appealing to voters and delegates interested in economic transformation and youth empowerment.
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7. Kunle Rasheed Adegoke (SAN)
Often referred to as “K-RAD,” Adegoke is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a respected legal practitioner with a history of service in the legal profession and within the legal community.
Before 2025, he had contested the governorship primary under the APC (in 2018).
He has served in various capacities in the legal profession, including roles in the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), committees on electoral reform, and other leadership positions in legal advocacy.
He formally declared his intention in 2025 to contest the 2026 governorship under APC.
Adegoke says his ambition is driven by a desire for “people-centred leadership,” promising enhanced welfare for public servants (teachers, healthcare workers), transparent governance, infrastructure development, security improvement, and overall economic revival.
A key plank of his manifesto is an agriculture-driven economic plan, involving efficient land management, creation of agricultural hubs, modern farming, agribusiness and rural development, designed to reposition Osun’s economy.
Some local APC elders/caucuses in certain LGAs have commended his blueprint and called him a “utility aspirant.”
A recent statement from him stressed that a former major APC leader in the state (former governor) has not endorsed any aspirant, perhaps a way to dispel rumors or push for a fair contest.
8. Dr. Mulikat Abiola Jimoh
Jimoh is a former member of the Osun State House of Assembly, giving her legislative experience at the state level.
She became the first female aspirant under the APC to obtain the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the 2026 governorship race.
Her candidacy marks a notable moment for gender representation within the Osun APC governorship race, in a field otherwise dominated by men. This could be strategically important for the party’s outreach to women, youth, and demographic groups seeking inclusion.
Beyond her former legislative status, there is relatively limited public information about her broader political base, campaign manifesto, or endorsements.
That could pose a challenge in a crowded and competitive primary, especially when pitted against heavyweights with deep political machinery or resources.
9. Babajide Omoworare
Omoworare is a former senator and has served in various legislative capacities. He has also held leadership roles, including Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, and became the Special Adviser to the President on legislative matters (Senate).
Before entering the Senate, he had earlier served as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly (1999–2007), indicating longstanding legislative experience.
He is among the nine aspirants for the 2026 APC governorship ticket.
His strengths lie in federal-level legislative experience and possibly being able to leverage contacts and networks in Abuja to channel development and federal support to Osun.
This could appeal to voters hoping for good federal-state synergy.
In a race with many technocrats and ex-executives promising economic revival or grassroots mobilisation, a purely legislative profile may struggle to stand out, especially if he cannot complement it with a strong organising structure and concrete policy proposals.
