Historic Unity: APC Chooses Consensus Candidate.

Former Managing Director of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Oyebamiji, who leads a political movement known as AMBO, was presented as the sole aspirant of the party to the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, chaired by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo.

The party’s primary election was held on Saturday at the Ebunoluwa Event Centre, where nine aspirants of the party withdrew from the race in his favour.

On their behalf, Kunle Adegoke, SAN, formally moved the motion for withdrawal and nominated Oyebamiji as the sole candidate, a motion that was seconded by Senator Jide Omoworare.

Following the endorsement, 1,660 delegates drawn from the party’s 332 wards across the state affirmed Oyebamiji through a voice vote, which was subsequently authenticated by the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee.

Announcing the outcome, the chairman of the committee said: “By the power conferred on me as Chairman of the primary committee, I hereby declare Bola Oyebamiji, AMBO, as the candidate of our party.”

In his acceptance speech, Oyebamiji expressed appreciation to the primary election committee, party leaders and delegates for the confidence reposed in him to fly the APC flag in the forthcoming election.

He pledged to prioritise poverty reduction, revive the health sector and address the infrastructural deficits confronting the state.

Reacting to his emergence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged Oyebamiji to be magnanimous in victory by reaching out to all party leaders and former aspirants.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President praised the Osun State chapter of the APC for the unity, maturity and spirit of reconciliation that preceded and permeated the primary election, which was conducted through affirmation.

President Tinubu commended other aspirants in the race for their decision to step down in favour of Oyebamiji, describing the move as a demonstration of party loyalty and collective commitment to the ideals and goals of the APC.

“The journey to reclaim Osun State for the progressive fold in the 2026 governorship election has begun. I urge all members and leaders of APC in the state to remain focused, united, and resolute. Victory is achievable, and together, we will succeed,” he said.

The President also acknowledged the orderly conduct of the primary election, which was chaired by Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, where party delegates unanimously affirmed Oyebamiji’s candidature.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that the unity displayed by the party during the primary would strengthen its prospects ahead of the 2026 governorship election, calling on all stakeholders to sustain the momentum and work collectively toward electoral success.

Meanwhile, a real estate developer, Hon. Adewale Adebayo, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2026 election.

Adebayo’s emergence was ratified by the Chairman of the APM Primary Election Committee, Idowu Babarinde, after party members presented him as the sole aspirant at the party’s state secretariat in Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo.

According to Adebayo, “The current government has failed. Public trust is gone. Promises are empty. The people are tired. The same way the PDP failed Governor Adeleke, Osun will do the same for him for his re-election bid come August 8, 2026. APM is ready to send him back where he belongs.”

Also, a 39-year-old entrepreneur, Olajide Esan, has clinched the governorship ticket of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the Osun governorship election.

The Osun State Chairman of the AAC, Tayo Adeyemi, disclosed this while addressing journalists after the party’s primary election held at its secretariat in the Powerline area of Osogbo, noting that Esan emerged with the backing of party members across the state.