Osun 2026: Seven APC candidates except Omisore agree to support Oyebamiji after Tinubu’s intervention
Sequel to President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants for the Osun state governorship election on Tuesday, seven of the candidates have agreed to back Bola Oyebamiji as the party’s consensus candidate.
Recall that NewsClick Nigeria had earlier exclusively reported on the meeting at the instance of the president to quell divisions arising from fallouts from the screening committee’s report which barred seven of the candidates from contesting.
According to insider sources, the meeting commenced 9 pm and ended 11 pm at the presidential villa.
Aside President Tinubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the party’s national chairman, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda; the Progressives Governorship Forum chairman and Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola were also at the meeting.
The sources said the president urged aspirants to unite behind the party’s choice of a candidate in Oyebamiji.
The aspirants who stepped down include former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi Olugboyega , Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, and Mulikat Abiola Jimoh.
Omisore boycotts meeting, vows to fight on
Meanwhile, one of the aspirant and a former deputy governor of the state, Iyiola Omisore did not attend the meeting with the president.
The former national secretary of the ruling party had earlier described his disqualification as “the biggest joke of the year,” citing procedural flaws and political interference within the party.
In an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, Omisore explained that he had approached the APC appeal committee following the party’s guidelines, but the committee had yet to submit its report.
“I met with the appeal committee because the party guideline, section 21 of section 4, says any such action has to be reviewed, which I did. The appeal committee sat for two days and up to today, they have not submitted their report because there was confusion among them.
“The basis of the qualification was not established, and the appeal committee believed that it was wrongly done, poorly done and poorly executed. That is why the appeal committee could not even submit the report up to now,” Omisore said.
He criticised the disqualification process as baseless, pointing to his compliance with party procedures.
“The basis for the disqualification was unfounded because we obtained forms for 1,700 nominators and paid for them. If you are not a member of the party, they won’t sell you a form to be a delegate. We just took 155 out of it.
“So going by that analysis, it’s just a funny thing and an embarrassment to the public. It embarrasses everybody. By my own pedigree, I’m a man of systems and methods.
“When our leader, President Tinubu, won the election, he ensured all compliance was done. When I do that for more than the president, vice president, about 36 governors and many legislators, I imagine that coming this far, it’s not only an embarrassment to me, but an embarrassment to the party. So that’s it.”
Omisore also addressed allegations of political pressure from former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to influence the screening process.
“I said in my earlier explanation that the Osun state lost the election in 2022. After the election, we did a post-mortem led by Professor Asike Adewoliva, Minister of Health.
“The report indicated that former Governor Adeleke made us lose the election and three or four of his cabinet members aided the loss. So it became a problem for the state all over. That is why we will not go the same route for primaries. Unfortunately, the former governor is now sponsoring one of those who aided the 2022 loss.
“The entire state leadership is against his position, and he’s trying to impose the candidate. I want to make it clear that this is not about President Tinubu. He has been fair. This is purely a state-level issue.”
He warned against repeating past mistakes ahead of future elections:
“We want to win the 2026 election. We cannot go the same way we lost in 2022. Einstein says that insanity is doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results.”
Omisore elaborated on the dysfunction within the appeal committee and the screening process:
“The chairman of the committee said there was pressure on him. They were supposed to report on the faults of others, which they could not complete. Everything became confusion.
“The issue now is former Governor versus the rest of our state leadership, as the party members are trying to impose a form of commissioner for finance on us. There is no point at this level to disqualify us; it’s an embarrassment to all of us.”
On procedural adherence and electoral law, Omisore said:
“You can see people, as politicians, became worried, maybe over certificates or nominators. But luckily for us, the nominators were in order, which is the least of what can be challenged by a former national secretary.
“The electoral act says the nomination of a candidate is administrative. Even if a party wanted to disqualify a candidate, it’s only a court of law that can do it. So what they have done is the biggest joke. If they are in a hurry, there are better methods to conclude it.”
Despite the internal turmoil, Omisore praised President Tinubu’s leadership:
“Mr. President has done well. Everything he did is transparent. The security situation is improving. We salute our leader for what he is doing. But we don’t want to bother him with this internal issue of Osun state or manipulate issues around that place.”
K-RAD congratulates Oyebamiji, appeals supporters to respect party decision
One of the aspirants, Kunle Adegoke, SAN, popularly called K-RAD has appealed to his supporters to keep eyes on the wins ahead and respect decision of the party.
Adegoke in a statement he personally signed and released on his Facebook page on Wednesday congratulated the party’s consensus candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO). He thanked the president and party leaders for their timely intervention.
Read full statement below:
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES – STRONGER, TOGETHER”, -KUNLE ADEGOKE, SAN
My dear brothers, sisters, and steadfast comrades across Osun State, I greet you warmly.
Thank you for your love, your prayers, your sacrifices, and your unshakable belief in our shared vision for a better Osun. Your commitment has been my strength throughout this journey.
The process to select our party’s flagbearer for the 2026 governorship election has now come to an end, and after broad consultations, our party has settled on Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) as its candidate.
This decision was communicated during a meeting convened by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Mr. President noted that the party leadership had weighed several critical considerations before arriving at the final choice and underscored the need for unity, stability, and forward progress within our ranks.
One issue arose during our discussions that deserves clear public record. As aspirants, we jointly sought clarification regarding circulating claims suggesting that some among us had been “disqualified.” We expressed concern that such descriptions did not reflect the actual proceedings. It was affirmed, openly and without ambiguity, that all aspirants were duly screened, found eligible, and adjudged fit to contest. No adverse findings were established against any of us. This fact should be properly understood by all party members.
The National Chairman, who participated in the meeting, aligned with this position and emphasized the importance of discipline, respect for established procedures, and the collective interest of the party at this crucial moment. The President reinforced the need for all aspirants to stand together as one strong family in order to deliver victory for our party and secure the future of Osun State.
In that same spirit of responsibility, my fellow aspirants and I reaffirmed our commitment to peace, cooperation, and party unity. I have personally congratulated AMBO and hereby extend my best wishes to him as he steps forward to carry the expectations of party members across all the wards and the local government areas in our great State. The responsibility ahead is a shared one, and success must reflect the strength of our collective resolve.
To my supporters across the state (our traders, farmers, traditional and community leaders, youths, women groups, elders, and loyal party members), please accept my profound gratitude.
I particularly acknowledge your passion and commitment, our people in Osogbo. I understand your feelings and I urge you to let us keep our eyes on the wins ahead. Our labour is not lost and we have forged a noble union with which we can do well for our State. Your prayers and loyalty are unparalleled and they are still coming to work for you. Thank you for your encouragement and courage.
I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for His Excellency’s leadership and for offering guidance at a pivotal moment for our party. I extend appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, for His Excellency’s contributions to the broader consultative process. I commend my fellow aspirants for their composure, discipline, and loyalty to the larger interest of the party.
This point in our political journey is not an endpoint but simply a bend in the road. Our unity remains solid, and our purpose remains clear. Together, we will continue working for a united party and a more prosperous Osun State.
Remain steadfast. Stay focused. Stay committed.
Long live the K-Radists.
Long live the All Progressives Congress.
Long live Osun State.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
