The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has established a separate 168-member presidential and parliamentary campaign council ahead of the 2027 general elections, appointing its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, as Director-General.
The party said the council would mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and campaign for APC candidates contesting National and State Assembly seats.
Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, announced the appointments in a statement issued in Osogbo on Monday. He said the party selected its leaders and members to strengthen its campaign activities and improve its chances in the coming elections.
Under the new structure, Lawal will serve as Deputy Director-General, while Oyebamiji’s running mate, Benjamin Adereti, and Kehinde Olamolu will serve as Assistant Directors-General I and II.
The three APC senatorial candidates and nine House of Representatives candidates in the state are also listed as members.
Osun APC council follows disagreement over Tinubu campaign structure
The formation of the new Osun APC council comes less than two weeks after Governor Ademola Adeleke inaugurated a separate campaign council for Tinubu’s re-election on October 22.
Adeleke was appointed coordinator of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council in Osun. The 344-member structure brought together political figures from different parties, including the APC, Accord and Peoples Democratic Party.
However, the arrangement generated disagreement within the Osun APC. Lawal had complained that the state party leadership was not consulted before the governor-led council was constituted.
The disagreement also followed the absence of several prominent APC figures from Adeleke’s inauguration. They included former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Oyebamiji and Lawal.
Adeleke maintained that his support was specifically for Tinubu’s re-election. He ruled out extending the arrangement to APC candidates seeking legislative seats in the state.
Prominent APC figures join Oyebamiji-led team
The newly announced council includes former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Foluke Etteh; former deputy governors Iyiola Omisore, Titi Laoye-Ponnle, Adegboyega Alabi and Adeleke Adewoyin.
Others named include retired General Alani Akinrinade, former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode and APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi.
In announcing the appointments, Lawal said the party intended to work with members of the campaign structure to secure support for Tinubu and its legislative candidates.
The emergence of the Oyebamiji-led team creates a second campaign structure within the Osun political arrangement for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, highlighting disagreements over the organisation of the campaign in the state.