The All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally adopted the immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, as its consensus candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Oyebamiji emerged on Saturday at the party’s governorship primary election held within the premises of Ebunoluwa Group of Schools, Osogbo, following a unanimous affirmation by party delegates and stakeholders.
The decision was reached after two leading aspirants, Kunle Adegoke (SAN) and Senator Babajide Omoworare, jointly moved a motion for Oyebamiji’s adoption as the party’s flagbearer. The motion was subsequently subjected to a voice vote by the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Committee and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, which received overwhelming approval from members present at the venue.
Declaring the outcome, Okpebholo said, “By the power conferred on me, I present to you Bola Oyebamiji as the governorship candidate of our party.”
Earlier, Okpebholo had indicated that the APC would elect its candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election through affirmation, signalling the party’s preference for consensus over a competitive primary.
The primary election witnessed the presence of several high-profile party leaders, including the co-chairman of the primary committee and Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who represented the Lagos State Governor; and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The development followed the emergence earlier in the week of 1,660 delegates designated to participate in the APC’s December 13 governorship primary in Osun State.
Strong indications of a consensus arrangement had also surfaced after all seven APC governorship aspirants reportedly agreed to step down in favour of a single candidate. The decision followed a late-night meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Confirming the party’s internal agreement, a former APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, publicly endorsed the consensus arrangement during an appearance on TVC News’ Politics Tonight programme on Wednesday.
Omisore, who was among seven aspirants disqualified by the APC Screening Committee over alleged violations of party guidelines and electoral provisions, said he accepted the party’s decision after consultations and guidance from President Tinubu.
The adoption of Oyebamiji as consensus candidate is widely seen as a strategic move by the APC to project unity and strengthen its chances ahead of the 2026 governorship contest in Osun State.
