Osun 2026: APC Leaders Seek Total Support for Oyebamiji Ahead of Governorship Election

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State have called on party stakeholders at both the state and national levels to mobilise full support for Bola Oyebamiji, the party’s governorship candidate, as preparations intensify for the August 8, 2026, election. The appeal comes amid concerns that lingering grievances from the party’s primary could weaken internal cohesion if not urgently addressed.

Oyebamiji emerged as the APC flagbearer through a consensus arrangement, with other aspirants stepping down in his favour. While the process was widely described as peaceful, party leaders acknowledge that reconciliation and sustained unity will be critical to presenting a formidable front against opposition parties as the campaign season gathers momentum.

Call for Unity as Campaign Activities Intensify

Rising from a meeting in Obokun, the APC Leaders’ Forum stressed that unity remains the party’s most potent asset ahead of the governorship contest. The forum warned that internal divisions, if allowed to persist, could undermine the party’s chances despite the perceived popularity and experience of its candidate.

In a communiqué jointly signed by the forum’s co-conveners, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye and Tunji Adesokun, the leaders urged party members to set aside personal interests and rally behind the collective objective of reclaiming power in Osun State. The document emphasised that electoral victory would be achievable if all tendencies within the party worked in harmony.

The forum further noted that political activities would intensify in the coming months, making it imperative for the APC to enter the race as a united and disciplined organisation capable of mobilising effectively across all wards and polling units.

APC Confidence in Oyebamiji’s Candidacy

The APC leaders described Bola Oyebamiji as a loyal and committed party man with significant political experience, arguing that his candidacy has simplified the task before the party. According to the forum, his emergence through consensus should serve as a rallying point rather than a source of disaffection.

They expressed confidence that, with collective support, Oyebamiji would secure victory at the polls without undue difficulty. The leaders pledged to mobilise at the grassroots level to ensure widespread acceptance of the party’s candidate and to counter any form of internal sabotage.

Reaffirming an earlier agreement among APC leaders in the local government, the forum insisted that all members must relinquish allegiance to former aspirants once a candidate has been produced, regardless of the method adopted in selecting the flagbearer.

Reconciliation Efforts and Broader Party Support

While commending party leaders for conducting a peaceful primary, the forum called for deliberate efforts to reconcile aggrieved members in order to strengthen the APC’s electoral prospects. It warned that divisive tendencies could erode public confidence and blunt the party’s momentum.

The leaders also observed that available indications suggested that many voters in Osun State were eager for the return of the APC to power. However, they cautioned that this perceived goodwill would only translate into electoral success if party members remained disciplined and united.

In the communiqué, the forum praised key party figures, including President Bola Tinubu, the national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, the national secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, the state chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, and the leader of the APC Elders’ Forum in Osun, Pa Sola Akinwunmi, for their continued commitment to strengthening the party’s structure and prospects.