The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2026 Osun State election, Bola Oyebamiji, were absent on Thursday as Governor Ademola Adeleke inaugurated a 344-member council to coordinate President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the state ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Their absence came amid questions over the composition and inauguration of the campaign council, following complaints by the Osun APC leadership that it was not adequately informed about the arrangement before the event was announced.
The inauguration brought together several prominent political figures from the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Accord Party.
Former Osun State Governor, Chief Adebisi Akande, attended the event alongside APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and former party National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore.
Other notable attendees included former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin, former senator Babajide Omoworare, and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.
Also present were Osun Central Senatorial Leader, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Afolabi; and former National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) Registrar, Professor Olu Aina.
Former PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo; Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi; and Osun Accord Chairman, Victor Akande, also attended the inauguration.
However, several influential APC figures were missing from the gathering. Apart from Oyetola and Oyebamiji, the senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, was absent. Others who did not attend included APC state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal; former Assembly Speaker, Timothy Owoeye; House of Representatives member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke; Federal Housing Authority Executive Director for Project Implementation, Remi Omowaiye; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Adebayo Adeleke.
Addressing party leaders and other stakeholders, Akande called on the people of the South-West to support Tinubu’s bid for a second term, describing the president’s re-election as a priority for the region.
“Today, we have one of our sons in Yorubaland as President of Nigeria, and he is entitled to two terms in office. We are all praying that he gets his second term. I learnt that in Osun State, Governor Adeleke has been asked to lead the people of the state to achieve two million votes on January 16, 2027.
“I remember that it is my birthday, and I hope you will all rejoice with me at the end of that day that the Yoruba son who is President of Nigeria will continue. May God give us success.”
Akande’s remarks reflected the campaign council’s target of securing a strong vote for Tinubu in Osun, where political parties are expected to work together despite their differences ahead of the presidential election.
Basiru also urged APC members and other political stakeholders to cooperate with Adeleke, insisting that Tinubu’s re-election should take precedence over personal ambitions and disagreements within the party.
The APC national secretary said he had received a call from Adeleke about the inauguration the previous evening but decided to attend before travelling to Kaduna State for another engagement.
“The governor called me yesterday evening to inform me about this inauguration. I have an engagement in Kaduna State this afternoon, but I said I must be here this morning before proceeding to Kaduna because this is my base and we must prioritise it.
“Everybody who matters in Osun politics is here today. As National Secretary of the APC, I am, by my position, the most senior political officeholder in Southern Nigeria today.
“It is in President Tinubu’s wisdom that he chose Governor Adeleke as his campaign coordinator in Osun. For us in Osun State, irrespective of our feelings, ambitions and scheming, we must abide by the vision of President Bola Tinubu and support Governor Ademola Adeleke to be successful in this exercise.
“I want to plead with all of us in Osun to come together and work with our governor, irrespective of our political party, and support him to deliver a massive victory for the President.
“There is no ambition or ego that is greater than ensuring President Bola Tinubu is re-elected. It is very imperative for us to support the President to succeed for a second term. Today, the resources now available to sub-nationals, like Osun, have made it possible for us to meet our current expenditure,” Basiru said.
