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2026: Adereti’s Nomination Further Tears APC Apart As Ife Federal Constituency Elders Reportedly Dissociate Selves

ByOnline Editor

PublishedMarch 9, 2026

Accuses Oyetola Of Imposition, Militarisation Of Party

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Ife Federal Constituency has reportedly slammed the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy over what they described as the imposition of the deputy governorship candidate of the party, Mr Kayode Adereti.

The party leaders, during a meeting with the former National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, reportedly alleged that Oyetola did not consult with them before picking Adereti as the running mate to Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, the candidate of the party for the August 15 gubernatorial election.

According to a post on the Facebook page of the media team of the former deputy governor of the state, the meeting which was presided over by a former Deputy Governor, Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin and held at Omisore’s residence, was attended by members drawn from the four local governments and the Ife East Area Office.

The post stated that the leaders expressed the regret that another “imposition by Mr. OYETOLA was capable of causing disaffection between the leadership of Ife caucus on one hand and problems between Ife North and Ife Central on the other hand.”

The post noted that Ife APC elders rose from the meeting to dissociate themselves from the “imposition of the Deputy Governorship candidate and chastised the former governor for alleged militarisation of Osun politics”.

The elders reportedly stated that the party did not carry them along in the process of the earlier nomination of Hon Lekan Olatunji as a placeholder and the subsequent nomination of Mr. Benjamin Adereti as the deputy governorship candidate.

“The double nominations of initial candidate, Hon Lekan Olatunji and later Mr Benjamin Adereti are volatile and could divide the unity of different cultural interests within the Ife area.

“The situation that could ignite already settled ethnic rivalry in Ife land is a low one for the party. The meeting took exception to a proposed reception party for a segment of the party being planned for the nominated running mate without proper involvement of all interests.

“The APC leadership in Ife Federal Constituency resolved that they will be convinced of the genuine reconciliation after all candidates for other elective positions might have emerged in May this year.

“We condemned the imposition in its entirety! We are awaiting what OYETOLA has in plans to the senate, HReps & Assembly candidates, which must be completed by the end of May before we take WHOLISTIC STEPS and POSITION AND DIRECTION,” the post quoted the party leaders as saying.

Those at the meeting, according to the post, include: Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin, Prince Omolade Binuyo, Alhaji Basiru Awotorebo, Alhaji Olafiranye, Mr. Kole Akinrinade, and Alhaji Fatai Kolawole.

Others are Mr Kayode Akintifonbo, Alhaji OlowoAsalu, Prof Moses Awogbade, Mr. John Fakunle, Mr. Mafikuyomi, Hon Folorunso Oladoyin, Hon Wale Ojo, Hon. Jamiu Olawumi, Hon Ogunremi, Mr. Tona Famadewa and ⁠Otunba Iyiola Omisore.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy proved abortive has calls put across to his Special Adviser, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, were not connecting as at the time of filing this report.