Osun:Since 1999,Only Aregbesola Has Been Able to Succeed Himself,Others Ended After One Term-Ojo

Political affairs analyst Jide Ojo has highlighted the unusual pattern of political succession in Osun State since the return to democratic rule in 1999, noting that former governor Rauf Aregbesola remains the only governor to have successfully secured two consecutive electoral mandates.

Ojo made the remark on Friday, August 14, 2026, during an interview with News Central TV ahead of the Osun State governorship election.

Speaking about the political trajectory of the state over the years, Ojo said the history of governance in Osun had been marked by frequent changes in leadership, with most governors unable to secure a second term after their initial tenure.

He said the development had made Aregbesola’s tenure particularly significant in the political history of the state, as he was the only governor since 1999 who managed to win re-election and remain in office for two consecutive terms.

“Look at the trajectory since 1999, only Rauf Aregbesola has been able to succeed himself, in which case he’s the only one who has won election twice, consecutively — other governors have had their mandate truncated after their first term,” Ojo said.

The political analyst’s observation comes as Osun voters prepare to elect their next governor, with the state’s history of political transitions once again drawing attention ahead of the poll.

Ojo’s assessment suggests that the ability of a governor to secure a second consecutive mandate has been an exception rather than the norm in Osun’s Fourth Republic political history.

With the governorship election taking place amid intense political competition, the state’s longstanding pattern of changing leadership after a single term remains an important feature of the political environment as voters had to the polls.