Osun ADC and the Omoluabi Tendency: Between Experience, Service and Grassroots Connection By Oluwatosin Babatunde

As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Osun State, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has continued to make steady inroads across the state. Among the various blocs in the party, the Omoluabi Tendency stands out — a platform that prides itself on integrity, inclusiveness, and people-centered leadership.

With the Omoluabi tendency of ADC zoning its governorship ticket to Osun West Senatorial District, attention has now turned to three frontline aspirants within the Omoluabi family: Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, Senator Adelere Oriolowo, and Alhaji Moshood Adeoti. Each aspirant carries a rich political background, yet the question remains who among them can truly transform the Omoluabi vision into statewide acceptance and electoral victory?

Najeem Salaam: The Voice of Legislative Experience

Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam is not a newcomer to Osun politics. A two-term former Speaker of the State House of Assembly from Ejigbo Local Government, Salaam has built a reputation as a calm, experienced legislator and consensus builder. His representation of Ede Federal Constituency—the same political turf as incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke—puts him at a strategic crossroads between continuity and challenge.

During his time as Speaker, Salaam earned respect for his measured leadership style and his ability to balance political interests in a volatile environment. Yet, the political terrain has evolved since his days at the helm of the Assembly. Many observers wonder whether his quiet, methodical style will resonate in today’s fast-paced political climate, where visibility and grassroots connection often define success.

The question for Salaam is not about competence but about reach—can he reawaken the confidence of the electorate in Ede Federal Constituency and beyond, and can he translate his years of legislative leadership into tangible electoral energy for the ADC?

 

Adelere Oriolowo: The Bureaucrat Turned Politician

Senator Adelere Oriolowo, from Iwo Local Government, combines years of administrative experience with legislative exposure. A retired Permanent Secretary before his election to the Senate, Oriolowo embodies the classic civil servant who rose through diligence and discipline. His supporters describe him as a man of structure, principle, and foresight.

Oriolowo’s record in public service highlights a deep understanding of policy design, fiscal discipline, and institutional management. However, politics, unlike bureaucracy, demands daily human connection and emotional resonance with the electorate.

As one political analyst in Iwo noted, “Senator Oriolowo understands government machinery, but politics is about people’s emotions how you make them feel seen and heard.”

His challenge, therefore, lies in translating administrative efficiency into grassroots passion. Can his reputation for integrity and order inspire the same enthusiasm at the community level that bureaucratic circles admire? That question may define his chances in the ADC primary and beyond.

Moshood Adeoti: The Tested Grassroots Mobilizer

For Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, politics has always been about people — about presence, trust, and connection. A native of Iwo, Adeoti’s political career spans from the grassroots to the corridors of power. He has served as Supervisory Councillor, Local Government Chairman, State Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and later as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

His tenure as SSG and earlier as ACN Chairman marked a turning point in Osun’s political history, as he was part of the strategic machinery that helped secure victory for Aregbesola in 2010.

Adeoti later contested the 2018 governorship election under the Action Democratic Party (ADP), where he polled over 49,000 votes despite joining the party barely three months before the poll. That performance, analysts say, reflected his wide grassroots network rather than party structure.

Today, Adeoti’s political influence extends across all 332 wards in Osun State, a spread that few politicians in the state can claim. His leadership presence was particularly visible during the period of internal crisis in the APC, when the feud between Aregbesola and Oyetola reshaped political loyalties in Iwo and across the state.

However, Adeoti’s challenge is not just to command loyalty but to expand his appeal to diverse blocs and young voters who seek a fresh political message. As he seeks the ADC ticket, observers believe his experience must now evolve from mobilization to policy depth from rallies to results.

 

The Broader Picture: ADC’s Search for Balance

For the African Democratic Congress, the coming months represent more than just an internal primary; they symbolize a test of maturity and strategy. The Omoluabi Tendency prides itself on values honesty, competence, and compassion principles that must reflect in its eventual choice of candidate.

Najeem Salaam offers legislative experience and stability, Adelere Oriolowo embodies administrative discipline and policy insight, while Moshood Adeoti brings grassroots presence and political structure. Each aspirant appeals to different strengths within Osun’s complex political mosaic.

What remains essential is whether the ADC can unite behind whoever emerges, projecting not just a candidate but a credible alternative to the state’s dominant political blocs.

As Osun people weigh their options, the conversation is shifting from political names to human impact from who has held power to who understands the struggles of farmers in Ejigbo, traders in Iwo, artisans in Ede, and youths across Osogbo.

Conclusion: The Omoluabi Test

The ADC’s internal contest will be more than a race for a ticket; it will be a reflection of character and vision. The Omoluabi Tendency, true to its name, must seek not only an electable flag bearer but one whose values mirror the aspirations of the Osun people.

Osun stands at a delicate junction between continuity and renewal, between rhetoric and results. In the coming months, the people will not just listen to speeches; they will watch actions, recall histories, and measure sincerity.

Whoever carries the ADC flag must, above all, embody the true spirit of Omoluabi integrity, service, and love for the land and its people.