As the results of the 2026 Osun State governorship election began to point towards Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory, one figure became increasingly prominent in the campaign’s media activities: lawyer and Accord Party chieftain Pelumi Olajengbesi.
Olajengbesi emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of Adeleke during the closely contested election, regularly addressing developments surrounding the poll and urging voters to protect their votes.
As spokesperson of the Imole Campaign Council, he was at the centre of the campaign’s public communication before, during and after the August 15 election.
Olajengbesi’s political background
Olajengbesi is an Ijesa-born lawyer who has developed a growing political profile in Osun State, particularly around the Oriade and Obokun axis.
His political ambition extends beyond his role in Adeleke’s 2026 governorship campaign.
Ahead of the 2027 general election, he secured the Accord Party ticket to contest the Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
This is not his first attempt at the seat. He previously contested the constituency in 2019 and is now seeking to defeat incumbent lawmaker Wole Oke, who has represented the area for more than two decades.
His political activities have also received support from traditional rulers in Ijesa North. In July, the Ijesa North Traditional Rulers’ Council endorsed his bid for the House of Representatives.
How he defended Adeleke during the election
During the governorship campaign, Olajengbesi became a regular voice on issues surrounding the election.
When reports emerged of technical difficulties involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at some polling units, he called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the problems, arguing that such failures could disenfranchise voters.
He also made allegations against supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of vote buying, intimidation and using security personnel against members of the Accord campaign. Those allegations were political claims and were not established as facts in the material provided.
As counting and collation progressed, Olajengbesi continued to communicate the Accord campaign’s position. He declared that Adeleke was in a “comfortable lead” and called on INEC to rely on results from individual polling units during the collation process.
When Adeleke was eventually declared the winner over APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, Olajengbesi celebrated the outcome, describing it as a reflection of the choice made by Osun voters.
His political future
While Olajengbesi’s role in Adeleke’s successful re-election campaign has increased his visibility, his attention is likely to shift towards his own political ambition.
His planned 2027 House of Representatives contest in the Oriade/Obokun constituency could become his next major political test.
Olajengbesi has presented himself as an advocate for younger leadership and has argued that the constituency needs a new generation of representatives rather than continued reliance on established political figures.
For now, however, his most notable political achievement remains his role as one of the most visible voices behind Adeleke’s successful 2026 Osun governorship campaign.
