President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have reined in the aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants who were smarting over their disqualification last week by the seven-member selection panel headed by Obinna Uzor.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu met eight of the aspirants in the House of Representatives and urged them to avoid disputes.
Osun State governorship aspirants who attended the meeting included former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji. The party’s former national secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was absent.
The party’s primaries to select its candidate ahead of next August’s off-season gubernatorial election in Osun State are scheduled for Saturday, December 13. A statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), hinted that the party’s candidate may emerge through the consensus option.
Under the APC Constitution, a candidate for elective office can emerge through direct, indirect or consensus options.
The statement read in part:
“President Tinubu, who commended all the aspirants for their contributions to the APC in Osun State, urged them to close ranks and support the consensus candidate the party will field for the state governorship election. He also advised them to avoid the internal disputes and disunity that caused the party to lose the last election in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Investigation revealed that two of the nine aspirants were cleared for the gubernatorial primaries: former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, and Mulikat Adeola.
At the end of the meeting with President Tinubu, the eight aspirants promised to accept the result of the primaries and signed a pledge. Onanuga’s statement further revealed that a joint statement was issued in which the aspirants and party leaders pledged to support the candidate who emerged in the primaries.
The statement said:
*”We, the undersigned aspirants for the 2025 Osun State governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having met and deliberated in the presence of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and in a spirit of unity, discipline and loyalty to our great party, declare the following:
We affirm and defend the supremacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in guiding and determining the most appropriate process to select the flag bearer of the party for the 2025 gubernatorial election in Osun State;
We unanimously agreed to abide by the decision of the party to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation in the APC primary elections scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025;
We accept in good faith the outcome of the party-led nomination process and pledge our full support to the candidate so nominated and affirmed;
We are committed to peace, unity and cohesion within the APC, and undertake not to engage in any act, public or private, that may undermine the integrity of the process or the position of the party;
We will work collectively and individually to ensure the success of the APC at the polls and the consolidation of good governance in Osun State.
We make this declaration voluntarily, with absolute loyalty to our great party and in recognition of the guidance provided by Mr. President and the National President in the paramount interest of the progress and stability of Osun State.”*
While stressing the importance of party supremacy, President Tinubu charged aspirants to let her guide the selection of the flag bearer, noting that only the party benefits when it wins elections. He said:
“You all have a duty and obligation to the party to ensure that our party candidate wins the upcoming elections in Osun State. You must strengthen the bonds of unity, party supremacy and collective responsibility. I have absolute confidence in your ability to achieve victory for our party in Osun State. You have my support and that of the APC national leadership to win the coming elections.”
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In addition to the aspirants, the APC National President, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, attended; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the president of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.
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