7 APC governorship contenders withdraw in support of Oyebamiji after strategic meeting

In a significant move toward achieving party unity and presenting a formidable front for the 2026 gubernatorial election, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has successfully engineered a consensus arrangement. This pivotal political development saw 7 APC governorship contenders withdraw from the race, effectively endorsing one of their colleagues following a crucial meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting, held in Abuja, brought together the key aspirants vying for the APC ticket in the Osun governorship primary. President Tinubu, who champions party cohesion, personally met with the contenders to underscore the necessity of presenting a united front against the incumbent opposition, Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party. The President reportedly urged the aspirants to embrace dialogue and consensus building to avoid the costly internal divisions that contributed to the party’s loss in the last election.

The presidential intervention was immediately successful, resulting in a joint decision by seven governorship aspirants to step down. This collective sacrifice was made in favour of former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, positioning him as the official consensus candidate for the party.

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Oyebamiji as the Consensus Choice

The endorsement of Bola Oyebamiji is expected to provide a substantial boost to the APC’s efforts to reclaim the governorship seat in 2026. Oyebamiji, who has been a prominent figure in Osun politics and whose candidacy has already garnered support from various party caucuses, now leads a unified camp. The aspirants who withdrew have pledged their full support and resources to his campaign, signaling an end to the internal fragmentation that plagued the party’s previous efforts.

This consensus arrangement is designed to streamline the primary process, ensuring the party avoids a divisive and expensive contest while focusing its energy on grassroots mobilization. The development comes as the APC simultaneously organizes its ward congresses to elect delegates for the governorship primary, demonstrating a clear strategic path toward the nomination and the main election.