President Bola Tinubu has met with leaders and governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, urging them to close ranks and embrace a consensus arrangement ahead of the party’s December 13 primary election.
The engagement, held on Monday night at the State House, Abuja, was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Those present at the meeting included former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
Also in attendance were the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
According to the statement, Tinubu commended the aspirants for their longstanding contributions to the party but warned against a repeat of the internal disputes that cost the APC victory in the last Osun governorship election.
“You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State. You must strengthen the bonds of unity, party supremacy and collective responsibility,” the President said.
Tinubu expressed confidence in the aspirants’ ability to deliver victory for the APC, assuring them of his full backing as well as that of the party’s national leadership.
He urged them to respect party decisions and rally behind whoever emerges as the consensus candidate.
At the end of the meeting, the aspirants and party leaders issued a joint declaration committing to support the consensus process. They affirmed the party’s authority in determining its nomination procedure, pledged to abide by the agreed arrangement, and vowed to refrain from actions capable of undermining party cohesion.
The group also committed to working collectively to secure APC’s victory in the 2026 Osun governorship election and to promote stability and good governance in the state.
According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, political parties are required to submit the names of their candidates for the August 8, 2026 Osun governorship poll by December 15.
