There is tension within the camp of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, and that of immediate past National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, over who picks the party’s ticket for the August 08, 2026 governorship election in Osun State.
Since the former national secretary announced his intention to contest the election, political dynamics in Osun APC have changed.
Before the entrance of the former deputy governor of the state, getting the ticket was said to be in favour of a former two-term Commissioner for Finance under the administrations of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Oyetola, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji.
Oyebamiji was said to enjoy the backing of the immediate past governor, with a majority of the ministers’ supporters rooting for Oyebamiji.
However, sources in the APC told OSUN DEFENDER that members of the party who want Oyebamiji to get the ticket have become jittery and are no more as confident with Omisore’s entrance.
Also, the sources said Oyetola’s loyalists were seeing the blunt approach of the former National Scribe as a direct attack on the Marine Minister.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Omisore, during a meeting with APC ward chairmen recently, said that President Bola Tinubu asked him to contest the 2026 poll.
In another meeting with the Vice Chairmen of the party across local governments in the state, Omisore threw shades at the other gubernatorial aspirants in APC.
The former deputy governor said those who begged him to contest next year’s gubernatorial election are better than the aspirants who have shown interest under the party.
Following the remarks, loyalists of the former governor took to social media to condemn Omisore, accusing him of throwing the party’s leadership under the bus.
In a Facebook post, a loyalist of the Marine Minister, Tunmise Ajiboye, attacked Omisore, telling him his governorship ambition is an effort in futility.
Ajiboye in the post said Omisore should not have contested again after resigning as the National Secretary of the party controversially.
But a few hours after the post, a former Special Adviser on Education to Oyetola, who has now joined Omisore’s camp, Jamiu Olawumi, shared a post attacking the Minister and his rumoured anointed aspirant, Oyebamiji.
Olawumi posted a story on his Facebook page where a socio-political group, Osun Political Frontiers, expressed deep concern over the activities of the immediate past Governor and his ex-Finance commissioner.
In the now-deleted post, the group had warned both Oyetola and Oyebamiji to desist from undermining the achievements of President Bola Tinubu in Osun State.
Meanwhile, following the attack by the two camps, the State Working Committee of APC in Osun issued a code of conduct to the party’s governorship aspirants.
Its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement, said the move was to sanitise the APC and promote peace, unity, and tranquillity towards the upcoming governorship primary.
Parts of the measures include the outlawing of any member of the executive officers of the party at all its levels, be it state, senatorial, local government, ward, and the reinstated local government council chairmen and councillors from involving themselves as the coordinator of any governorship aspirant.
The party also said it ordered the spokespersons of the governorship aspirants, their leaders, members, and supporters, to desist from using derogatory and abusive language during the course of canvassing for their aspirants, adding that failure to do so would attract an instant sanction in line with the constitution of the party.
According to the party chairman, some supporters and followers of the numerous APC governorship aspirants have been throwing caution to the wind by needlessly verbally attacking either some of the esteemed party leaders, aspirants, or supporters of other aspirants within the same party.
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
