What You Should Know About Osun State Ahead of the Election

The Osun State governorship election is coming up, and people are getting anxious as political parties finish their campaigns for the poll on 15 August.

This will be the second off-cycle governorship election in Nigeria this year, after Ekiti State had its election in June.

The race seems to be focused on three main candidates. Some parties and political figures have set aside their ambitions to support the leading candidates, especially the APC‘s Bola Oyebamiji.

In recent weeks, the election has been a hot topic across Nigeria. It will likely draw even more attention as voters head to the polling units.

Here are 21 things to know about Osun State.

1. Osun State was created on 27 August 1991 by the military government of Ibrahim Babangida. It was separated from Oyo State during a major state creation exercise. That year, Nigeria's states increased from 21 to 30 as the military government added nine new states. The other new states include Abia, Anambra, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Kebbi, and Yobe. Osogbo, an important commercial town, is the capital of Osun State.

1. Osun is one of the six states in Nigeria’s South-west geopolitical zone. It shares borders with Ekiti and Ondo states to the east, Kwara State to the north, Ogun State to the south, and Oyo State to the west.

1. The state’s official slogan is “Land of Virtue.” It is also known as the “State of the Living Spring,” named after the Osun River.

1. The current governor is Ademola Adeleke from the Accord Party. He was sworn in on 27 November 2022 after winning against the then-incumbent Gboyega Oyetola. Mr. Adeleke, who won the 2022 election under the PDP, is seeking a second term in this election as the Accord candidate.

1. The population figures for Osun are mainly estimates. According to the 2006 national census, the state had a population of 3.4 million. The state government now estimates the population to be about 4.7 million, based on projections from 2016. Osun is the 9th smallest state by area and the 19th most populous state in Nigeria.

1. Osun has 30 local government areas divided into three senatorial districts: Osun East, Osun Central, and Osun West. The state also has 3,763 polling units across 332 wards.

1. Leo Ajiborisha, an army colonel, was the first governor of the state. He ruled from August 1991 to January 1992 before passing power to the first democratically elected governor.

1. The first democratically elected governor was Isiaka Adeleke, who served from 1992 to 1993. He came from the influential Adeleke family and was the older brother of the current governor, Mr. Adeleke.

1. Since its creation, Osun has had 10 governors, both military and civilian. They include Leo Ajiborisha, Isiaka Adeleke, Anthony Udofia, Anthony Obi, Theophilus Bamgboye, Bisi Akande, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Rauf Aregbesola, Gboyega Oyetola, and Ademola Adeleke.

1. Agriculture is a key part of Osun’s economy. Major crops include cocoa, cassava, yam, maize, kolanut, rice, and oil palm. The state is located in Nigeria's cocoa-producing region, especially around Ife and Ijeshaland. Osogbo, the capital, also has industries in textiles, food processing, and steel-rolling.

1. Osun is home to one of Nigeria’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. This site was recognized by UNESCO in 2005 thanks to the efforts of Austrian-Nigerian artist Susanne Wenger. The grove is by the Osun River, just outside Osogbo, and features shrines and artworks honoring the river goddess Osun and other Yoruba deities.

1. The part of the river in the Osun grove has been preserved for 400 years. It is believed to have healing powers and can help with pregnancy.

1. In Yoruba belief, Osun is a goddess of love and sexuality. She is one of many orisas or deities. She is popular in global culture, referenced by artists like Dianne Reeves and Jennifer Lopez. American singer Beyoncé identified as Osun in her 2016 album Lemonade and in a viral photoshoot announcing her pregnancy, wearing the signature yellow-gold color associated with Osun.

1. Every August, the Osun-Osogbo Festival takes place at the sacred grove. This festival lasts two weeks and attracts many worshippers from Nigeria and the Black diaspora, including Cuba, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago. Activities include ritual cleansing, lighting a centuries-old lamp, and a procession led by the Ataoja of Osogbo and a young ritual maiden called the Arugba.

1. Ile-Ife in Osun State is seen by the Yoruba as the cradle of their civilization and the place where humanity began. It is the home of the Ooni of Ife, a key traditional ruler in Yorubaland. Some sub-Yoruba groups in Osun include Ife, Ijesa, and Igbomina.

1. Osun has rich mineral resources. These include cassiterite, columbite, tourmaline, marble, and gold. Gold was found in the state in 1945, but mining only began in the 1980s. The Nigerian Mining Corporation set up the first industrial mining site. Later, Tropical Mines Limited took over the project, while the NMC kept a 20 percent share. Unfortunately, unregulated gold mining has caused serious environmental damage and pollution in the Osun River.

1. Osogbo has a long-standing textile and craft industry, including tie-dye (adire) cloth-making, along with food processing and light industrial work.

1. Saturday’s election is the eighth governorship election in Osun.

1. This election is Nigeria’s second off-cycle governorship election this year, after the one in Ekiti. It is also the last governorship election before the 2027 presidential election.

1. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says Osun has about 2.3 million registered voters who will choose from 14 candidates on Saturday.

1. Other notable people from Osun State include the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Ette; former Chief of Defence Staff Alani Akinrinade; billionaire businessman Deji Adeleke; late Deputy Premier of the old Western Region Remi Fani-Kayode; late former senator Ayoola Adeleke; late former governor of old Oyo State Bola Ige; former deputy governor and senator Iyiola Omisore; Afrobeats star David “Davido” Adeleke; APC National Secretary Ajibola Bashiru; former IGP Tafa Balogun; late Chief of Army Staff Taoreed Lagbaja; General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Enoch Adeboye; General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church William Kumuyi; Founder of Kingsway International Christian Centre Matthew Ashimolowo; NAFDAC DG Moji Adeyeye; former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode; music star Emmanuel (Mayorkun) Mayowa; Christian filmmaker Mike Bamiloye; veteran artist Toyin Adegbola; former Supreme Court justice Bolarinwa Babalakin; Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group Wale Babalakin; ex-Finance Secretary Oladele Olashore; former Minister of Transport and Aviation Ebenezer Babatope; journalist Dele Olojede; Chief Imam of Osun State Sheik Ajisafe; music star Eedris Abdulkareem; actress Seyi Shay; former Minister of Internal Affairs Sunday Afolabi; founder of Lead City University Jide Owoeye; and veteran journalist Liad Tella.