The All Progressives Congress chapter in Osun State has established an independent 168-member campaign council to spearhead the 2027 re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu, deliberately excluding Governor Ademola Adeleke. Announced on Monday by the state party leadership, the move comes in direct response to a separate campaign structure earlier inaugurated by Adeleke, highlighting deep political friction ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Key figures behind the newly formed Osun APC council include Bola Oyebamiji appointed as Director-General, and state chairman Tajudeen Lawal serving as Deputy Director-General. The comprehensive list features all three party senatorial candidates, nine House of Representatives hopefuls, four former deputy governors, retired General Alani Akinrinade, political figure Femi Fani-Kayode, and several other prominent stakeholders across the state.
Why did the Osun APC reject Governor Adeleke's campaign structure?
The party's decision to form a parallel organization stems from disagreements over the scope of support offered by Adeleke. Although the governor had previously inaugurated a 344-member council in Osogbo where he named himself coordinator for Tinubu's campaign, he maintained that he would exclusively back the President while withholding support from other APC candidates.
Reacting to this stance, the state APC leadership explicitly rejected a selective endorsement. In a formal statement issued by Tajudeen Lawal, the party noted that prominent stakeholders—including former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and the state chairman—were notably absent from Adeleke's earlier inauguration.
"We have, therefore, carefully selected All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders and members in Osun State to actualise our collective desire of ensuring all-round victory for the President as well as our National and State Assembly candidates," the statement clarified.