Seven APC governorship aspirants step down for Bola Oyebamiji after meeting with Tinubu
In a dramatic realignment within the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), seven governorship aspirants have withdrawn from the race to support Bola Oyebamiji as the party’s consensus candidate ahead of the forthcoming primary election.
The major breakthrough emerged after a closed-door meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The session was aimed at resolving internal disputes and unifying the party ahead of the 2026 governorship contest.
However, the meeting was conspicuously boycotted by one of the aspirants, former APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore, who had earlier dismissed his disqualification from the screening process as “a joke.” His absence underscored lingering tensions within the party’s Osun faction.
The seven aspirants who agreed to step down in favour of Oyebamiji include:
- Former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi
- Dotun Babayemi
- Akin Ogunbiyi
- Senator Babajide Omoworare
- Kunle Adegoke (SAN)
- Babatunde Haketer Oralusi
- Mulikat Abiola Jimoh
Sources at the meeting said President Tinubu appealed for unity, stressing the need for a cohesive front capable of reclaiming the state from the ruling PDP. The aspirants reportedly agreed that adopting a consensus flagbearer was the best route to avoid a fractious primary.
Bola Oyebamiji, a former Commissioner for Finance in Osun State, is now expected to emerge as the party’s official candidate, barring any last-minute changes.
Political observers say the development signals a significant shift in the internal dynamics of the Osun APC and sets the stage for a potentially heated general election battle next year.
