The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s bid to contest the 2026 gubernatorial election.
The decision was reached at a stakeholders meeting of the Osun West Senatorial District APC, held in Iwo on Friday, 31 January, 2025
According to the stakeholders, Oyetola has the right of first refusal for the party’s gubernatorial ticket. The meeting, chaired by Akin Omolaoye, also passed a vote of confidence in the party’s leadership at both the national and state levels.
Omolaoye emphasized that the APC will field the best candidate to win the 2026 governorship election in the state. He stated that Oyetola remains the party’s ticket holder unless he decides not to contest.
The party leaders also issued a warning to different groups within the party, ordering them to suspend all memos and communiqués regarding the party’s candidacy.
“Party unity is more important than the ambition of any individual member,” the leaders said. They appealed to external forces to desist from making statements and taking actions that could divide the party.
Omolaoye also appealed to the party leadership to zone the ticket to Osun West if Oyetola opts out of the race, in the interest of fairness and balance. He stated that Osun West remains the APC’s stronghold and is capable of unseating the ruling party if given the opportunity to represent the party in the next governorship election.
“We do not have an anointed candidate, but we are speaking with one voice—if Oyetola is not contesting, it is the turn of Osun West to fly the party’s flag,” Omolaoye said. “We have more than a hundred qualified candidates in this district, and our priority is to produce the best candidate when the opportunity arises.”
Notable attendees at the meeting included former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, former Speakers Mojeed Alabi and Adejare Bello, and Senator Mudashir Hussein.
