Because the 2026 Osun governorship election attracts close to, the Coalition of Osogbo Indigenous Teams has known as for the following governor of Osun State to emerge from Osogbo, the state capital.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, the coalition in a press release collectively signed by the Osogbo Improvement Motion Group, ODAG, Osogbo Progressive Youth Motion, OPYM, Osogbo Peace and Unity Advocacy, OPUA, Osogbo Affairs Discussion board, OSAF, The Nice Osogbo Daughters, Ààrè Ò Pétà Motion, and the Osogbo Nationwide College students Union, ONSU, stated the demand was primarily based on equity, historic significance, and equitable illustration inside the state.
The group stated Osogbo, regardless of being the capital and financial hub of Osun, had by no means produced a governor because the state’s creation in 1991.
Talking on behalf of the coalition, Omosola Olabode, Coordinator of Osogbo Improvement Motion Group famous that Osogbo’s contributions to the political and financial progress of the state warranted its flip to provide the following governor.
He stated, “The historic significance of Osogbo in Osun socio-politics requires that an indigene of the city ought to be the state governor in 2026, thirty-five years after the creation of Osun State.”
In response to the coalition, Osogbo represents the religious and cultural id of the state, because the title Osun is derived from a Yoruba deity domiciled within the city.
The coalition additionally cited inhabitants energy, financial relevance, and political participation as main explanation why Osogbo deserves the governorship slot.
“Osogbo is probably the most populated metropolis in Osun and the industrial hub the place over 65 per cent of the state’s each day financial actions happen,” the group acknowledged.
They additional lamented the dearth of main federal presence within the state capital, saying, “Osogbo is the one state capital with no federal greater establishment, ministerial appointment, or ambassadorial illustration.”
The coalition stated Osogbo’s fast progress required a frontrunner who understood its distinctive developmental challenges.
“In response to obtainable information, Osogbo is the fifth fastest-growing metropolis in southwestern Nigeria. A governor from Osogbo might be higher positioned to handle its progress and infrastructural wants,” it added.
The group urged all political events, together with the Peoples Democratic Celebration, PDP, All Progressives Congress, APC, and African Democratic Congress, ADC, to subject Osogbo indigenes of their primaries.
“Any political get together that presents an Osogbo indigene as its candidate within the 2026 election will obtain overwhelming help and votes from Osogbo individuals,” the coalition declared.
