Osun APC Rift Deepens as Oyetola, Oyebamiji, Other Top Leaders Shun Tinubu’s Campaign Council Inauguration

The inauguration of the 344-member Osun State Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election has exposed lingering divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the absence of several prominent party leaders from the ceremony.

The Press Nigeria reports that the council was inaugurated in Osogbo on Thursday by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, whom Tinubu appointed to coordinate his re-election campaign in the state.

Among the notable absentees were the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former Osun governor, Adegboyega Oyetola; the APC candidate in the 2026 governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji; and the senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi.

Others who did not attend included the state APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye; member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke; Executive Director of Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority, Remi Omowaiye; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke.

Their absence came a day after Lawal complained that the state APC leadership had not been formally notified of the inauguration.

However, former Osun governor and pioneer APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, led the party delegation at the event.

He was accompanied by APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru; former National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin; Babajide Omoworare; and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.

Other attendees included Osun Central Senatorial Leader, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Assembly Speaker, Wale Afolabi; and former NABTEB Registrar, Professor Olu Aina.

Representatives of other political parties in the coalition were also present, including former PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo; Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi; and Accord Party Chairman in the state, Victor Akande.

Speaking on the absence of some party leaders, Adelakun, who represented the state chairman as vice-chairman of the campaign council, suggested that those missing might not have been aware of the programme.

“Those of us who are here are here because we are available. We will give them feedback on what transpired here, and I am sure they are not haters of President Tinubu,” he said.

Adelakun also acknowledged the APC’s electoral challenges in Osun, arguing that collaboration with other political parties was necessary to secure the votes required for Tinubu’s re-election.

“As APC alone, we have not won an election in the last three election cycles, and if we must give President Tinubu the required number of votes in Osun, we have to collaborate,” he stated.

Akande, in his remarks, said Tinubu deserved a second term as a Yoruba son occupying the presidency and disclosed that Adeleke had been tasked with mobilising two million votes for the President in Osun.

“Today, we have one of our sons in Yorubaland as President of Nigeria, and he is entitled to two terms in office. We are all praying that he gets his second term,” Akande said.

The elder statesman, who noted that the January 16, 2027 governorship election date fell on his birthday, expressed hope that Tinubu’s anticipated victory would provide an additional reason to celebrate.

“I hope you will all rejoice with me at the end of that day that the Yoruba son who is President of Nigeria will continue. May God give us success,” he added.

The APC National Secretary, Basiru, urged party members to put aside personal interests and support Adeleke’s appointment as campaign coordinator in accordance with Tinubu’s directive.

“It is in President Tinubu’s wisdom that he chose Governor Adeleke as his campaign coordinator in Osun. For us in Osun State, irrespective of our feelings, ambitions and scheming, we must abide by the vision of President Bola Tinubu and support Governor Ademola Adeleke to be successful in this exercise,” he said.

“There is no ambition or ego that is greater than ensuring President Bola Tinubu is re-elected,” Basiru added.

He also defended the economic direction of the Tinubu administration, arguing that increased revenue available to state governments had made it easier for Osun to meet its running costs.

In his address, Adeleke called on members of the 344-member council to work together and surpass the 1.5 million votes he had earlier pledged to deliver for Tinubu in the state.

The governor described the alliance involving the Accord Party, APC and PDP structures as capable of securing the President’s re-election in Osun.

However, he clarified that the arrangement was limited to the presidential election and would not prevent coalition partners from supporting their respective parties in subsequent legislative contests.

“While we will join hands to deliver Mr President on his party platform, coalition partners are free to work for their party candidates during the senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections. What ties us together is the presidential, not the legislative, elections,” Adeleke said.

The governor also disclosed that the federal and state governments were close to resolving the lingering local government crisis in Osun, expressing optimism that an agreement would soon be reached.

“Our dear state should expect good news very soon,” he said.

The inauguration comes amid continuing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the absence of several influential APC figures raising questions about the extent of unity within the party as it prepares to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.