- Why Governor Is Yet To Issue Directive – Sources
As political parties in Nigeria gear up for the primary elections to elect those who will represent them in various elective positions, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has yet to issue a directive on the day his appointees seeking elective positions should resign, OSUN DEFENDER reports.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that President Bola Tinubu and most state governors have directed their political appointees seeking to contest the 2027 general elections to resign between March 30 and 31.
The directives are pursuant to the provisions of Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the INEC timetable, primaries to pick candidates for the January and February elections must be held between April 23 and May 30.
Government sources who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER said Governor Adeleke would issue the directive before the deadline prescribed by INEC, adding that political appointees eyeing elective positions would resign as expected.
The sources noted that the Governor has already spoken with some of the appointees who wanted to contest with a view to finding the best way to handle things.
Meanwhile, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that, even though the appointees have yet to resign, grassroots consultations have intensified, with campaign posters and banners already circulating across the state.
Among those who have declared their ambitions are the chairman of the Osun State Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr Ibukun Fadipe, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Tola Faseru and the Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Gani Olaoluwa.
Others are the Special Adviser to the governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Akanfe Atidade and the Board Chairman of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) Engr. Mayowa Oloso.
Both Fadipe and Faseru have shown interest in contesting the senatorial ticket for Osun East under the Accord Party with billboards and campaign posters of the two political appointees already circulated across the state.
Whoever wins the ticket will likely be contesting against the incumbent Senator representing the district, Francis Fadahunsi.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Fadahunsi who was elected in 2023, under the Peoples Democratic Party, in 2025, defected to the All Progressives Congress, citing the issues affecting the party at the national level.
Fadahunsi, alongside Osun Central Senator, Olubiyi Fadeyi, the federal lawmakers representing Ijesa South, Ijesa North and Ife federal constituencies respectively – Hon. Sanya Omirin, Hon. Wole Oke and Hon. Taofeek Ajilesoro were formally inaugurated into the APC fold on February 14, 2026, during an event held at Freedom Park, Osogbo.
OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that Senator Fadahunsi has the best chance of getting a return ticket among the PDP federal lawmakers who defected to the APC.
Gani Olaoluwa, popularly called Asejere has shown interest in contesting for the Osun Central Senatorial ticket under the Accord Party.
Olaoluwa, a former Executive Chairman of Olorunda Local Government and former state chairman of the PDP in Osun State contested the senatorial seat in 2019 under the PDP against the incumbent national secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru and lost with about 26,042 votes.
He also contested the 2022 primary but lost out to the incumbent Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi. Olaoluwa, would, however, hope to get the ticket again and go one step forward by winning the senatorial seat.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the incumbent Senator representing Osun Central, Olubiyi Fadeyi, might not get the return ticket as sources within the APC said there were moves by the leadership of the party to give it to a former gubernatorial aspirant, Kunle Adegoke (SAN).
For Ijesa South federal constituency, Engr. Oloso would hope to secure the ticket at the primary this time around. He contested the 2022 primary under the Peoples Democratic Party but lost out to the eventual winner, Hon Sanya Omirin.
It is still unclear whether Omirin will be given the return ticket by the APC leadership as sources said the lawmaker might be among the defectors who won’t be considered for return tickets.
Another appointee who has declared interest in contesting the 2027 election is Adeleke’s Special Adviser on Agriculture, Hon. Niran Atidade.
Hon. Atidade who was at the Osun State House of Assembly representing Ede South between 2019 and 2023 has declared that he would love to return to the assembly in 2027.
He would be contesting the ticket against the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Taofeek Olayiwola.
OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that the stakes are high and the political atmosphere is getting charged as residents await Governor Adeleke’s directives on appointees seeking to contest the 2027 general elections.
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.
