Politics

Agba Osun Endorses Oyebamiji as APC Flag-Bearer for 2026 Osun Governorship Race

Published by admin on November 29th, 2025.

Agba Osun Endorses Oyebamiji as APC Flag-Bearer for 2026 Osun Governorship Race

By Japheth Osakwe, Abuja

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The Agba Osun, the apex Elders’ Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has endorsed former Commissioner for Finance and immediate past Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), as the preferred flag-bearer of the party for the 2026 governorship election.

The endorsement followed a comprehensive screening exercise conducted by the elders’ council, during which no fewer than 12 gubernatorial aspirants in the party were assessed. A member of the council, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Oyebamiji’s endorsement was based on his impressive private and public sector experience, as well as his “clean and verifiable credentials and his popularity in the state.”

According to the source, the council also paid serious and particular attention to the recommendations of the APC’s Repositioning Committee, submitted in 2024, which advised that the long-standing agitation for power shift to Osun West Senatorial District should be a major consideration in the APC’s choice of candidate.

The Agba Osun reportedly took into account previous communications by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to former National Secretary of the party, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, indicating the President’s resolve to consider a candidate from Osun West in the 2026 governorship race. It was further gathered that during a meeting with President Tinubu, Omisore was reportedly requested to withdraw from the race and nominate a country of his choice for an ambassadorial appointment.

It was also on the strength of the Agba Osun’s decision that a prominent member of the council from Iwo Federal Constituency, Professor Deremi Abubakar, openly flagged off the AMBO governorship project two days ago.

It was equally learnt that President Tinubu had six months ago intimated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, his preference for the APC Candidate in Osun to emerge from Osun West Senatorial District for strategic reasons, for justice and fair play.

Following these developments, a wave of realignments has reportedly swept through the party. Many supporters of Otunba Iyiola Omisore are now openly identifying with the AMBO project. It was gathered that several of them are making secret contacts to join the AMBO campaign structure, particularly when they learnt that a former National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande had confided in Omisore the decision of President Tinubu to back the candidature of Oyebamiji for the 2026 poll.

It was reliably gathered that the AMBO campaign team is working assiduously to reach out to supporters of other aspirants to build a united front ahead of the election.

Although the APC governorship primary election is scheduled for December 13, 2025, it remains unclear whether all other aspirants will step down in favour of Oyebamiji to present a single, formidable candidate ahead of the August 8, 2026 governorship election, where the party is aiming to dislodge the incumbent governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

Calls made to Engr Sola Akinwunmi, Chairman of the APC Elders’ council, to verify the rumour in circulation were returned unanswered.