Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has inaugurated a 344-member coalition campaign council for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, but the absence of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola and the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, has drawn attention to divisions surrounding the exercise.
The inauguration, held on Thursday, also recorded the absence of the Osun State APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal; Senator Francis Fadahunsi; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye; and the member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke.
Despite the absence of the prominent APC figures, former Osun governor and party leader, Adebisi Akande, attended the event alongside the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru; former National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; and former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin. Some Peoples Democratic Party leaders, including the state chairman, Sunday Bisi, were also present.
Akande urged residents of the South-West to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition, saying the President deserved another tenure.
He disclosed that Adeleke had been tasked with mobilising two million votes for Tinubu in Osun ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
Basiru appealed to APC members to close ranks and cooperate with Adeleke, arguing that Tinubu’s decision to appoint the governor as campaign coordinator should take precedence over personal grievances and political interests.
He urged party stakeholders not to allow individual ambitions or disagreements to undermine the campaign, while commending Tinubu’s leadership and saying increased resources available to state governments had improved their ability to meet financial obligations.
Adeleke said the coalition, which brings together structures from the APC, PDP and Accord Party, was designed to surpass the 1.5 million votes previously promised to Tinubu.
He urged members of the council to work together, stressing that the alliance was limited to the presidential election and would not stop the participating parties from supporting their candidates in legislative contests.
The inauguration followed a protest by the Osun APC leadership over what it described as a lack of consultation before the council was unveiled.
In a statement, Lawal said the party was not formally informed of the planned inauguration and criticised the short notice, warning that the process could create unnecessary tension between the party’s state chapter and the campaign leadership.
Kehinde Ayanboade
Kehinde Ayanboade is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Naija Metro News, with over eight years of experience covering Nigerian politics, crime, legislative proceedings and metropolitan affairs.
