29th September 2025
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has said the people of the state are yearning for the return of the party to power in the 2026 governorship election.
Oyintiloye, in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, said the yearning of the people for change was a strong indication that the APC would reclaim Osun, adding that leaders of the party were working with stakeholders to ensure victory.
He also allayed fears that the growing number of aspirants seeking the APC ticket may trigger internal implosion.
The ex-lawmaker explained that the pioneer APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; and the state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, working with other stakeholders across unit, ward, local government and state levels, would pick the candidate of the party for the August 9, 2026 poll.
He said, “All the aspirants of the APC have the capacity to contest and win the election, but the reality is that only one person can be the party’s candidate. However, the number of aspirants who have shown interest will not be a problem because Baba Akande, our national leader, and Oyetola, the leader of the party in the state, working with other stakeholders and members, will pick the best man from the APC long list of aspirants for the Osun people.”
Oyintiloye urged the aspirants to support whoever emerges as the candidate, emphasising that the next governorship election remains a crucial and must-win contest.
He noted that unity and commitment from members were key to securing victory.
He further said, “The people of the state are eager for the return of APC to power, and come 2026, the party will be victorious. All our aspirants are capable, and whoever emerges as the party’s candidate will win the election with a wide margin. But we all need to cooperate and remain united for the task ahead to be accomplished without stress.”
Commending Akande, Oyetola and Lawal for keeping the Osun APC united and attracting bigwigs from the opposition into the fold, Oyintiloye called on groups and associations across the state to lend more support to the party’s ambition to return to office in 2026.
Ahead of the party’s primary in December, many aspirants have already indicated interest in the governorship ticket. They include the current Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji; ex-chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare; and a lawyer and son of the immediate past Olufi of Gbongan, Dotun Babayemi. Others are the immediate past Osun Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi; the Chairman, Mutual Assurance Benefits, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi; and a legal practitioner, Mr Kunle Adegoke (SAN).
As the list of aspirants grows, supporters have been exchanging hot words, especially on social media, to either promote their candidates or discredit rivals. To prevent implosion, however, the Osun APC State Working Committee recently released strict directives to instil discipline and preserve party cohesion.
The APC SWC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, observed that some supporters of governorship aspirants had been engaging in verbal attacks against leaders, aspirants and fellow members.
It outlawed any member of the party executive across levels from serving as coordinators for aspirants and banned the use of derogatory language during campaigns.
The statement read, “The State Working Committee of the APC has resolved to instil discipline among erring members by instantly outlawing any member of the executive officers of the party at all levels… from involving themselves as coordinators of any governorship aspirant. It was also resolved that it has become compelling for aspirants, their leaders, members and supporters to desist from using derogatory and abusive language in canvassing for support, failure of which would attract instant sanctions.”
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