Osun 2026: Oyebamiji Banks On Grassroots Support, Says Adeleke Faces Change Wave

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has attributed his confidence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election to what he described as growing grassroots support across the state.

Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, said his campaign was not dependent on the backing of the Federal Government or any political heavyweight, insisting that his strength was derived from consultations with voters and various interest groups across the 30-plus local government areas of the state.

The APC candidate made the disclosure on Tuesday while participating in the Arise News Osun Governorship Town Hall, where he outlined his campaign activities and reasons for believing that the electorate was ready for a change in government.

According to him, he had toured more than 30 local government areas on three separate occasions, engaging party members, community leaders, traders, artisans, youths, women, civil servants and other stakeholders.

Oyebamiji said his first round of consultations was aimed at determining whether members of the APC were prepared to take over the reins of government in the state, adding that the response he received gave him confidence in the party’s chances.

“I have to go and consult the party members if we are ready to take this government or not, and the response was overwhelming. Everybody responded and said that yes, we need to take this government,” he said.

He explained that he subsequently embarked on another round of visits to inaugurate campaign canvassers across the local government areas, describing the enthusiasm of the party’s supporters as an indication of growing momentum ahead of the election.

“I have to go around the local government to inaugurate those canvassers, and they were charged, they were motivated, and they were encouraged. It’s quite illuminating,” he said.

The former commissioner said his consultations later extended beyond APC members to community leaders, market leaders, artisans, women leaders and civil servants, among others.

He claimed that the interactions strengthened his conviction that there was widespread demand for a change in leadership.

“After that, I had to go again to consult with the canvassers, the community leaders, the artisans, the Iyalojas, the Babalojas, and even the civil servants. And after that, I was convinced beyond doubt that our people in Osun are ready for a change,” Oyebamiji said.

Oyebamiji further claimed that his campaign had secured endorsements from about 42 sectors and groups in the state within the past two months, including traders, women, youths, private-sector operators and civil servants.

He, however, rejected suggestions that his expected victory would be the product of federal influence or the intervention of political heavyweights, maintaining that the outcome would ultimately be determined by the electorate.

“By special grace of God, I’m coming in as the governor of Osun come 15th of August 2026. This is something that is not far-fetched. It is not by any power, whether it is a national power or it is mighty power, it is by the people,” he said.

The APC candidate also played down concerns over the popularity of the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, urging voters to assess both candidates based on their backgrounds, experience and administrative capacity.

Oyebamiji argued that his professional and administrative experience placed him in a stronger position to manage the affairs of the state, likening the governorship contest to the recruitment of a managing director for a private enterprise.

He said voters should carefully compare the credentials of the two major contenders before deciding who is best qualified to lead Osun State.