AARAJ's KEJEBU MOVEMENT: The Silent Force In The Osun 2026 Guber Polls

 

In every election cycle, there are forces that operate beyond party logos and campaign billboards.They move quietly, mobilize organically, and often determine outcomes before the first ballot is cast. In August 8th Osun's approaching gubernatorial contest, one such force is the Aaraj's movement 

Just as no serious political calculation in Oyo State can ignore the grassroots influence of popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat, it would be a grave mistake for political actors in Osun to underestimate the crooner of Kejebu, Raji Kehinde Aaraj and the growing movement around him.

Oriyomi Hamzat may be flying the flag of the Accord Party, but his real power lies elsewhere in his reach, his following, and the persistent speculation about where his political weight might eventually align. 

That uncertainty alone is enough to unsettle major parties and shape strategies. A similar scenario is quietly unfolding in Osun.

Aaraj is not a conventional politician but a businessman, philanthropist, and the founder of the Aaraj Empowerment Foundation (AEF), a structure that has empowered hundreds of thousands of people across Osun State over the years. Through sustained grassroots engagement, Aaraj has built trust, loyalty, and presence at the community level which many politicians struggle to manufacture.

With about one-hundred-thousand registered members, largely youths, AEF is not just another NGO; it is a political force in waiting. Its reach cuts across party lines, local governments, and social classes. In a state where youth participation can tilt electoral outcomes, this demographic strength alone makes the 'Aaraj Movement' impossible to ignore.

Unsurprisingly, Aaraj’s rising influence has triggered quiet anxiety across multiple political parties. Not necessarily because of where he currently stands, but because of where he could stand. In Nigerian politics, alignment often matters more than ambition, and endorsement can sometimes outweigh candidacy.

Less I forget, the outcome of Aaraj's alignment in the Osun 2022/2023 elections was an open secret which must be part of the considerations in the ongoing game of politics.

 

As Osun moves closer to another decisive moment, one truth is becoming clearer: the 2026 governorship election will not be shaped by party machinery alone. It will be influenced by movements, personalities, and grassroots power brokers whose loyalty is neither bought cheaply nor commanded easily.

The 'Aaraj Movement' represents that kind of power, subtle, grounded, and potentially decisive.

_Mukhtar Ajelogbon is a multimedia journalist from Osogbo, Osun State_