The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has established a 168-member presidential and parliamentary campaign council to push for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. The development comes amid friction within the state's political landscape over the campaign structure.
According to Punch, the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, will lead the council as Director-General. State APC chairman Tajudeen Lawal will serve as Deputy Director-General, with Oyebamiji’s running mate, Benjamin Adereti, and Kehinde Olamolu acting as Assistant Director-General I and II, respectively.
In a statement issued by Lawal in Osogbo, the party noted that the council was set up to strengthen its standing and secure victory for both Tinubu and all APC candidates running for legislative seats. The body includes three senatorial candidates, nine House of Representatives candidates, former House of Representatives Speaker Foluke Etteh, retired General Alani Akinrinade, Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa Femi Fani-Kayode, APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi, and former deputy governors Adeleke Adewoyin, Iyiola Omisore, Titi Laoye-Ponnle, and Adegboyega Alabi.
The emergence of this separate council follows the controversy sparked by Governor Ademola Adeleke, who launched the state's APC Presidential Campaign Council on October 22 after being named its coordinator. Lawal had previously expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the state party leadership was never consulted prior to that event.
Key figures including former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, Oyebamiji, and Lawal were notably absent from Adeleke's inauguration. However, party figures such as APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru and former governor Bisi Akande were in attendance.
Tensions deepened after Adeleke clarified his position during the October 22 launch, openly declaring that his support is limited strictly to President Tinubu's re-election bid. The governor explicitly ruled out working for or endorsing any APC candidates seeking legislative seats in the state.
