Politics
ANALYSIS: OsunDecides2026: Ex-governors, their remarkable feats, low moments
Osun State was created from the old Oyo State in August 1991 by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida. Since then, the state has been ruled by appointed military administrators and elected civilian governors, each leaving a distinct imprint on its political and developmental trajectory.
The state’s first administrator was Leo Ajiborisha, a colonel, who oversaw the establishment of some of the institutions required to run the newly created state before handing over to its first elected governor, late Isiaka Adeleke, in January 1992.
The return to civilian rule in 1999 ushered in a succession of elected administrations led by Bisi Akande, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola. The incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, was elected in 2022 amidst several political controversies.
Over the past three decades, these administrations have pursued different approaches to governance. Some have been celebrated for fiscal discipline, social welfare programmes, institutional development, and infrastructure, while others have been criticised for debt accumulation, labour disputes, political infighting, electoral controversies, and allegations of financial impropriety.
This analysis examines the major achievements and low moments associated with each administration and what they reveal about the evolution of governance in Osun State, as the state prepares for another gubernatorial election on Saturday.
Leo Ajiborisha: Building the foundation
Leo Ajiborisha, a military officer, was appointed the first administrator of Osun State upon its creation in 1991.
His administration largely focused on establishing the basic institutional framework of the new state and preparing it for the transition to civilian rule.
Among the notable steps taken during his tenure was the establishment of the Osun State Civil Service Commission in September 1991. His administration also established the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, with its radio station in Ile-Ife, which commenced operations in November 1991.
Mr Ajiborisha handed over power to Isiaka Adeleke in January 1992, marking the beginning of elected civilian administration in the new state.
Mr Ajiborisha’s tenure was brief, reflecting the transitional nature of the military administration.
He later held senior military positions, including Director of Operations at the Defence Headquarters and Principal Staff Officer to former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Isiaka Adeleke: The first civilian governor
Isiaka Adeleke became Osun State’s first elected governor in January 1992 under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).
As the pioneer civilian governor, he faced the task of consolidating the institutional structures established during the state’s formative period.
One of the notable initiatives of his administration was the establishment of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, which is now part of the state’s tertiary education infrastructure.
Mr Adeleke’s administration was abruptly terminated following the military takeover of November 1993, which aborted Nigeria’s Third Republic.
His tenure, therefore, lasted only about two years and did not provide sufficient time for many of his administration’s programmes to mature and manifest.
He eventually served as a two-term senator, representing Osun West from 2007 to 2011 as a PDP member. He was later reelected under the APC in 2015 but died in April 2017.
Anthony Udofia and Anthony Obi: The return to military rule
Following the 1993 military takeover, Nigeria and Osun returned to military administration.
Anthony Udofia became the second military administrator of the state under the regime of Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s late head of state. His administration focused largely on maintaining government operations and pursuing social and developmental programmes.
Mr Udofia was replaced by Anthony Obi, who served as military administrator from August 1996 to August 1998. Mr Obi’s tenure coincided with one of the most politically uncertain periods in Nigeria’s history.
Mr Obi was later redeployed to Abia State, where he remained until the return to civilian rule in May 1999.
Theophilus Bamgboye: Preparing for civilian rule
Theophilus Bamgboye became the fourth military administrator of Osun State under General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s transitional government.
His administration operated during the final phase of military rule and was primarily concerned with maintaining government institutions while preparing the state for the return to democratic governance in 1999.
Mr Bamgboye, an indigene of Omu-Aran in Kwara State, handed over to Bisi Akande, the first elected governor of Osun State under the Fourth Republic.
Bisi Akande: Fiscal discipline and difficult reforms
Mr Akande, who was elected on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy, governed the state from 1999 to 2003.
His administration was strongly associated with fiscal discipline, institutional reforms and an emphasis on reducing government waste.
Mr Akande’s government also pursued free education and healthcare initiatives, reflecting the social-democratic orientation of the Alliance for Democracy administrations that controlled all the South-west states at the time.
His administration’s attempt to rationalise and downsize the state civil service generated significant opposition from organised labour.
The reforms, which were presented as necessary, were opposed by workers and contributed to the political difficulties the governor faced in the 2003 election.
Mr Akande eventually lost the governorship to Olagunsoye Oyinlola, thus spending only one term of four years in office. He had served as the secretary to the defunct Oyo State Government and later deputy governor of the state under late Governor Bola Ige.
Olagunsoye Oyinlola: Expanding infrastructure and education
Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a retired brigadier-general and former military administrator of Lagos State, governed Osun State from 2003 to 2010 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
His administration placed considerable emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, water supply, transportation, security and job creation.
One of his most significant legacies was the establishment of Osun State University, which was designed as a multi-campus institution to expand access to university education across the state.
His administration also implemented various welfare and development programmes, particularly in rural communities.
The low moments
Mr Oyinlola became embroiled in a prolonged legal and political dispute over the 2007 governorship election.
The dispute culminated in the Court of Appeal nullifying his election victory in 2010, resulting in his removal from office and the emergence of Rauf Aregbesola.
The episode became one of the defining political controversies of his administration and further demonstrated the growing influence of electoral litigation in Nigeria’s political system. His sack by the court led to off-cycle governorship elections in Osun.
Rauf Aregbesola: Ambitious reforms amid financial crisis
Rauf Aregbesola governed Osun State from 2010 to 2018, becoming the state’s longest-serving elected governor so far.
His administration was marked by ambitious infrastructure projects, aggressive social welfare programmes and major reforms in education.
Mr Aregbesola’s supporters often point to his administration’s expansive approach to public works and social intervention as among its most enduring legacies.
Major achievements
The administration established the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, popularly known as O-YES, which provided employment opportunities for thousands of young people.
In education, his government introduced the “Opon Imo”(Tablet of Knowledge) digital learning initiative, which provided students with electronic educational materials. It also constructed mega schools as part of a broader attempt to transform public education infrastructure.
Another major initiative was the O-MEALS school feeding programme, which provided meals to pupils in public primary schools.
Infrastructure was also a major feature of the administration. Mr Aregbesola’s government undertook extensive road construction and rehabilitation across urban and rural communities.
His administration also promoted cultural identity, including the adoption of the title “Ogbeni” and the designation of Isese Day as a public holiday.
The low moments
The most controversial aspect of Mr Aregbesola’s tenure was the state’s worsening financial situation and the resulting impact on workers and pensioners.
Amid declining federal allocations and the state’s debt obligations, the government introduced a “modulated” salary structure under which some workers received only part of their monthly salaries. The policy generated intense opposition from labour unions and created hardship for thousands of workers.
His education reforms also generated significant controversy. The restructuring and reclassification of schools, including the merger of some historically single-sex schools, triggered protests and religious tensions, particularly over the issue of school uniforms and the use of the hijab.
The administration’s borrowing and debt accumulation also became a major political issue. Critics argued that the loans used to finance infrastructure projects created a substantial financial burden for subsequent governments.
Mr Aregbesola’s political relationship with his successor, Gboyega Oyetola, later deteriorated, contributing to divisions within the Osun chapter of the APC.
Gboyega Oyetola: Fiscal consolidation and political turbulence
Gboyega Oyetola succeeded Mr Aregbesola in 2018 after a controversial election and governed until 2022.
Political tension in Osun State peaked during the fiercely contested September 2018 poll, which was eventually declared inconclusive. This led to a controversial supplementary rerun, which escalated allegations of voter intimidation and high-stakes manoeuvring between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
During the 22 September 2018 election, early tallies showed Mr Adeleke was leading Mr Oyetola by a narrow margin of 353 votes, but INEC declared the election inconclusive because the total number of cancelled votes (over 1,000) exceeded that margin.
The PDP, Mr Adeleke’s party, and various observers criticised the inconclusive status, describing it as a “manoeuvre” by federal authorities to favour the ruling party. This prompted INEC to schedule a rerun for 27 September 2018, in seven polling units across four local government areas. The political tension between the APC and PDP became apparent, as the PDP deployed almost all its forces, including both current and former governors at the time, as well as the then Senate President, Bukola Saraki; all in an effort to influence the election outcome in their favour.
Third-place Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Iyiola Omisore eventually aligned with the APC ahead of the rerun, despite several attempts by the PDP to gain his support.
The rerun took place under unprecedented security deployment. PDP leaders and local monitors reported widespread harassment, heavy clampdowns, and restrictions preventing their supporters and accredited journalists/observers from accessing polling units
Mr Oyetola of the APC was ultimately declared the winner after the supplementary election, cementing a highly polarised political atmosphere that left lasting friction across the state.
The Oyetola administration inherited significant financial obligations, including salary and pension arrears, while also facing the challenge of sustaining government services amid fiscal constraints.
One of his central priorities was financial management. His administration stopped the payment of modulated salaries and restored full monthly salaries to workers.
The government also began addressing inherited pension obligations and invested in healthcare infrastructure.
Major achievements
The Oyetola administration renovated and upgraded primary healthcare centres across the state and invested in the State Specialist Hospital in Asubiaro, Osogbo.
It also constructed the Olaiya Flyover in the state capital, one of the most visible infrastructure projects of his administration.
In education, his government reversed some of the controversial reforms introduced by the Aregbesola administration, including changes to school names, uniforms, and school structures.
The administration also sought to reduce the state’s reliance on new borrowing.
The low moments
Mr Oyetola’s tenure was overshadowed by intense political rivalry within the APC, particularly his deteriorating relationship with Mr Aregbesola.
The internal division weakened the party ahead of the 2022 governorship election, which Mr Oyetola narrowly lost to Mr Adeleke of the PDP.
His convoy was also attacked during the EndSARS protests in October 2020, highlighting the volatile security environment of the period.
After leaving office, the Oyetola administration faced allegations from the succeeding government concerning the management of state resources and certain projects. Mr Oyetola, who is currently the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and his associates rejected such allegations, describing them as politically motivated.
Ademola Adeleke: Infrastructure, welfare and political battles
Ademola Adeleke became governor in November 2022 after defeating Mr Oyetola in the governorship election.
His administration has emphasised infrastructure, workers’ welfare, healthcare and education.
The Adeleke administration has highlighted the construction and rehabilitation of roads, as well as the development of major infrastructure projects, including flyovers in Osogbo.
Workers’ welfare has also featured prominently. The government says it has cleared substantial portions of inherited salary and pension arrears while improving welfare for pensioners.
In healthcare, the administration has undertaken the rehabilitation and upgrading of primary healthcare centres, including efforts to improve power supply at health facilities.
The administration has also supported the development of the University of Ilesa and promoted initiatives to expand the state’s digital economy.
The low moments
Despite these initiatives, Governor Adeleke’s administration has faced significant political and legal controversies.
One of the biggest disputes has centred on the control of local governments following legal battles over the status of elected local government chairpersons. The controversy generated tension between the state government and opposition politicians and raised questions about compliance with court decisions.
READ ALSO: #OsunDecides2026: Adeleke criticises predecessor Oyinlola for not backing him
The government also faced criticism following its decision to terminate the appointments of some workers recruited by the previous administration, particularly teachers and health workers.
Its handling of the state’s finances has similarly attracted scrutiny, with opposition politicians questioning some expenditures and projects. The administration has rejected allegations of financial impropriety and defended its spending as part of its development agenda.
Mr Adeleke’s public persona has also remained a source of political debate. His frequent public dancing, which supporters see as a sign of his accessibility and connection with ordinary citizens, has been used by critics to question the seriousness of his leadership.
The Overview
Political analysts have argued that the history of governance in Osun State reflects many of the broader challenges confronting Nigeria’s subnational governments.
The state’s early military administrators focused primarily on establishing institutions and maintaining stability. The return to democracy brought a stronger emphasis on education, healthcare, infrastructure and social welfare.
Yet the experience of successive administrations also reveals a recurring tension between ambitious development programmes and the state’s financial capacity.
Mr Akande’s fiscal reforms generated labour resistance. Mr Oyinlola’s administration was defined in part by electoral litigation, while Mr Aregbesola’s ambitious infrastructure and welfare programmes were accompanied by a severe salary crisis and concerns about debt.
Mr Oyetola attempted fiscal consolidation but struggled with internal party divisions. Mr Adeleke, the dancing governor, has pursued infrastructure and welfare programmes while facing legal disputes and political opposition. This political crisis and party fragmentation have lingered, prompting Mr Adeleke to defect to the Accord Party, where he will seek re-election on Saturday.
The political crisis/tension pattern unravelling in the state suggests that the central challenge for Osun is not merely the ability to initiate projects but the capacity to sustain them without imposing unsustainable financial obligations on future administrations.
As the state approaches another political cycle, the competing legacies of its former governors will remain important to the debate over what constitutes effective governance: infrastructure, social welfare, fiscal discipline, institutional stability or political inclusiveness.
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