Osun APC gov candidate to emerge through affirmation – Okpebholo

File: Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo.

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The chairman of the 2026 Osun State Governorship Primary of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Monday Okpebholo, has said the candidate of the party would emerge through affirmation.

The party has slated its primary for Saturday, December 13, in Osogbo, the State Capital.

The Edo State governor, who disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with the Osun APC stakeholders ahead of the primary election in Osogbo, called for the cooperation of members for the exercise to hold without rancour.

The meeting had in attendance one of the disqualified aspirants, ex-Osun State Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi, the immediate past Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, Osun APC State Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, and the leading governorship aspirant, Bola Oyebamiji, amongst others.

The PUNCH reports that two aspirants, the immediate past Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, Oyebamiji and the former member representing Ifelodun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Mulikat Abiola, were cleared to go for the primary.

Seven other aspirants, including two ex-deputy governors, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Benedict Alabi, were, however, disqualified during the screening at the national headquarters of the party.

Explaining the mode that would be adopted for the exercise, Okpebholo further said, “This gathering speaks to our collective resolve, not only to strengthen internal democracy but to reclaim Osun State into the progressive fold and restore purposeful leadership to Osun State.

“The purpose of this meeting is to formally brief you on the arrival of the primary election committee in Osun State and to outline certain modalities that will guide Saturday’s exercise.

“Transparency is key and we want every stakeholder to understand the process publicly. As you are all already aware, the mode of the primary will be consensus. All 166 accredited delegates will converge at the designated avenue to affirm the choice of our party’s candidate for the next gubernatorial election.

“Let me emphasise that no delegates will be allowed into the venue without the proper accreditation. This is to ensure fairness and accountability throughout the process.”

He called on the party stakeholders, leaders, aspirants, delegates and party members to give their full support to the committee and cooperate with the officials handling the processes.

Speaking earlier, the Co-chairman of the primary committee, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo State, implored members of the Osun APC to bury their differences and cooperate with the panel.

Recall that the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday elected 1,660 delegates who will participate in the party’s December 13 governorship primary.

The delegates—five from each of the state’s 332 wards—were chosen during ward congresses held across Osun.

Announcing the results at the party’s state secretariat in Osogbo on Tuesday evening, the Chairman of the 2025 Osun State APC Gubernatorial Congress Delegate Committee, Shehu Dange, commended party members for ensuring a peaceful process.

“I am happy to announce to you that at the end of the collation of the ward congress to elect delegates, a total of 1,660 delegates were elected,” he said.

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