Ahead of Osun APC Guber Primary, Tinubu Meets 8 Aspirants

.Canvasses party unity, consensus building

.Aspirants agree to party’s decision to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation on Dec 13

.Omisore shuns meeting

.APC chair Yilwatda, Gov Uzodimma, Akume, Oyetola in attendance

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has met with APC leaders and eight governorship aspirants in Osun state and appealed for unity and consensus-building ahead of the party’s gubernatorial primary Saturday,.The President, according to a release issued on Wednesday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, met with the aspirants at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night.The Osun State governorship aspirants who attended the meeting with the President include 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.One of the aspirants and former Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who had previously dismissed his disqualification from the primary as a “joke,” however, failed to attend the meeting.Also in attendance at the meeting were the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Chairman of the Progressive Governors, Hope Uzodimma; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.President Tinubu, who praised 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 present for the governorship election in the state. He also advised them to avoid the internal bickering and disunity that caused the party to lose the last election in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.While harping on the importance of party supremacy, the President charged the aspirants to allow it to prevail in choosing the flagbearer, noting that only the party can benefit from it when it wins elections.“You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State. You must strengthen the bonds of unity, party supremacy and collective responsibility. I have absolute confidence in your ability to deliver victory to our party in Osun State. You have my support and that of the National leadership of APC to win the coming election,” Tinubu assured.At the end of the meeting, a joint statement was issued in which the aspirants and the leaders committed to support the candidate who would emerge at the primary.The agreement signed by all the aspirants and the APC leaders stated, inter alia:“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 President Bola Tinubu, and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and in the spirit of unity, discipline, and loyalty to our great party, hereby declare as follows:“That we affirm and uphold the supremacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in guiding and determining the most appropriate process for selecting the party’s flag bearer for the 2025 Governorship Election in Osun State.“That we unanimously agree to abide by the party’s decision to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation at the APC Primary Election scheduled for Saturday, 13th December 2025.“That we accept the outcome of the party-led nomination process in good faith, and pledge our total support to the candidate so nominated and affirmed.“That we commit ourselves to peace, unity, and cohesion within the APC, and pledge not to engage in any act, public or private, that may undermine the integrity of the process or the standing of the party.“That 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, in absolute loyalty to our great party, and in recognition of the guidance provided by Mr President and the National Chairman in the overriding interest of the progress and stability of Osun State”.