Gov Adeleke Jittery as Omisore Throws His Hat into the Ring

There is a new rhythm in Osun politics, and it does not sound like ‘Buga.’ It sounds like a quiet but deliberate movement as Iyiola Omisore, the political mathematician from Ile-Ife, slips back into the arena.

Recently, the former APC national secretary declared his ambition to contest the 2026 Osun governorship election, launching what he called the “Osun Rescue Mission.” Within minutes, the state’s political air thickened. Supporters in Ife hailed his return. Party elders whispered strategy. And somewhere in Ede, Governor Ademola Adeleke might have felt the first real tremor of 2026.

Omisore, who once served as deputy governor and later as senator, promised to restore structure and confidence to Osun’s governance. “APC’s chance in 2026 is 100 per cent,” he said, a claim equal parts arithmetic and audacity. His loyalists insist he is the one candidate who can wrest power from Adeleke’s dance floor. It is a bold bet and a familiar rivalry.

In 2018, Omisore’s last-minute endorsement of the APC helped Gboyega Oyetola edge out Adeleke in a contentious rerun. That wound never quite healed. The memory of it resurfaced when Davido, Adeleke’s famous nephew, posted a cryptic “BEFORE 12 pm” moments after Omisore’s declaration, an online wink that set tongues wagging.

The exchange drew chuckles, memes, and quick math on social media. Some saw it as a sign of confidence, others as nervous humour. But few missed the subtext: the same forces that once decided Osun’s fate may again be drawing battle lines.

For Adeleke, who came to power in 2022 on a wave of populist energy, this is a different tempo. The man who danced his way into Government House may soon need new choreography, something sturdier than rhythm, something closer to strategy.

Politics in Osun has never lacked drama. Yet this one feels more personal, like a rematch set to a familiar beat. And as the drums start to roll, only one truth rings clear: in this state, history never leaves the dance floor.