Osun poll: Seven aspirants meet Tinubu,accept Oyetola’s candidate

President Bola Tinubu (centre) meets with APC governorship aspirants in Osun State at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, urging party unity and support for the consensus candidate. Photo: Presidency.

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Seven governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State have stepped down to back a consensus flagbearer after a late-night meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The session, held ahead of the APC primary slated for December 13, focused on party unity and averting the rancour that cost the ruling party the last governorship poll in the state.

Findings by The PUNCH showed that a former Commissioner for Finance in Osun State,Bola Oyebamiji,who is the favourite of ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, is the preferred choice to pick the APC governorship ticket in the primary scheduled for Saturday.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the parley and the communique in a statement he signed on Wednesday titled,‘President Tinubu Meets Osun APC Governorship Aspirants, Harps on Party Unity, Consensus Building.’

According to Onanuga, President Tinubu praised the aspirants’ contributions and urged them to “close ranks and support the consensus candidate the party will present,” while warning against internal bickering.

Those in attendance included Oyebamiji, former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Oralusi and Mulikat Jimoh.

Also present were APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

Reiterating party supremacy, Tinubu charged the aspirants to let the collective interest prevail, saying, “You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State. I have absolute confidence in your ability to deliver victory.”

At the end of the meeting, the aspirants and party leaders issued a joint declaration committing to a consensus path.

They wrote, “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.

“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.”

The communique was signed by all aspirants and APC leaders.

It read: “We, the undersigned aspirants for the 2025 Osun State Governorship Election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, having met and deliberated in the presence of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, 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 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.”

Earlier in the meeting, President Tinubu stressed the importance of discipline and collective responsibility, insisting that only a united APC can reclaim Osun.

He pledged the backing of the party’s national leadership for the eventual candidate.

With three years of experience, Stephen, The PUNCH correspondent, has been covering Nigeria’s presidency, politics, security, immigration and trafficking in persons

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