Former Osun State Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Osun All Progressives Congress Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, and the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2026 Osun elections, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, were conspicuously absent at the inauguration of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign council in Osogbo yesterday.
However, APC national leader Chief Bisi Akande was present for the event.
Reacting yesterday, the APC, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, said the party was unaware of the inauguration until the names of committee members were published on social media by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday afternoon. 
Lawal stated that although the party remained committed to Tinubu’s re-election, the exercise should have been properly scheduled and conducted in line with the official protocols required for a presidential campaign.
He described the re-election project as a collective responsibility that should not be handled with levity, noting that the presidential contest required adequate planning and coordination among party leaders and stakeholders.
Speaking during the inauguration, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke declared a target of delivering more than 1.5 million votes for the President in the January 2027 election.
The Governor described the alliance involving the Accord, All Progressives Congress (APC), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structures as a formidable coalition capable of delivering massive support for Tinubu in the state.
He clarified that the coalition was formed specifically to support Tinubu’s re-election bid and that the partnership did not extend to legislative elections.
Describing the gathering as a convergence of influential political figures in Osun, Adeleke noted that the coalition had brought together political structures across party lines to achieve its presidential election objective.
“This rainbow coalition of Accord, APC, and PDP structures is superbly potent to deliver Osun overwhelmingly to Mr. President come next year January.”
“Our coalition is solely about Mr. President, a man who means so much to Osun State and Nigeria. Our alliance is about the presidential election, on which we have all agreed to support the re-election of President Tinubu. These are critical times for the Yoruba people and Nigeria as a whole. For Osun people and her gladiators, must accept God’s will and rally round the President irrespective of our previous disagreements.”
“I task us to move out in the spirit of oneness and deliver the votes for our President. From the pain of the past, we must unite for the prosperity of the future. From unity in diversity, we must forge a new brotherhood behind our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu. On this note, it is my honour and privilege to inaugurate the presidential campaign council for Osun State for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Former APC National Chairman and ex-Osun State Governor Chief Akande praised Adeleke for his courage and capacity to unite leaders across political parties.
“I congratulate you for having the courage and capacity to bring us together in this hall to pursue the noble cause of the Yoruba race.”
“I also salute all of you, leaders of our political parties. Governor Ademola Adeleke, the pathfinder, has brought us together today to begin the pursuit of a noble cause for the Yoruba race. Before I turned 75, I was always at the forefront, with many of you following me. At a certain stage, I presided over meetings where I could neither recognize nor remember the names of 80 percent of the members.”
“So, when I turned 75, I decided to step aside, and I began to lead from behind. At times, I saw some of my people going rudderless, and it was beyond my control to bring them together. I blamed my age for this. I belong to a different culture and a different generation. I belong to the generation of people who joined political parties to contribute money and support their activities. But I discovered that I was leading from behind while those joining political parties to share money were moving ahead. Nevertheless, I can see that my followers are becoming more numerous. Because of this, they went rudderless.”
“However, today, particularly in Osun State, it has taken the courage of a person like Governor Adeleke to bring us together. I asked myself a question: It is true that I am old, just 88 years old. Should I come here today or not? But my mother used to tell me something when I was young, and I will say it in Yoruba: ‘Gbogbo ibi tí o bá rí tí wọ́n ti ń ṣe nǹkan rere, kò yẹ kí o má wà níbẹ̀’ (meaning that where good things happen, be part of them).”
“Today, we have one of our sons from Yorubaland as the President of Nigeria, and he is entitled to serve two terms in office. We are all praying that he will secure a second term. I have learned that, in Osun State, Governor Adeleke has been asked to lead the people of the state towards achieving two million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the January 16, 2027 election. I remember that date because it is my birthday. I hope you will all rejoice with me at the end of that day when the Yoruba son who is the President of Nigeria secures another term in office,” Akande said.
Speaking also, the immediate past National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, called on members of all political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Accord, to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
He urged political leaders and party members across the state to set aside their political differences and work toward securing victory for Tinubu.
“We need everybody irrespective of their political affiliation including ADC, Accord, and others to vote for President Bola Tinubu; we are not talking about governorship, NASS, and state assembly elections, but for the re-election of our leader.”
“We should work hard to deliver 2 million votes for President Tinubu; it is possible, and we must play our role effectively. I commend Governor Adeleke for the role he is playing in ensuring that our party wins the forthcoming presidential election,” Omisore said.
Similarly, APC National Secretary Dr. Ajibola Basiru called on political leaders and stakeholders in Osun State to support Governor Ademola Adeleke in ensuring the success of President Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Basiru urged political actors in the state to put aside personal ambitions, political interests, and party differences to work together toward securing a second term for Tinubu.
“For us in Osun State, we must understand that, irrespective of our feelings, ambitions, or political interests, we must abide by the mission of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and support Governor Ademola Adeleke to ensure the success of the campaign.”
“I appeal to all of us in Osun State to come together and work with our government, irrespective of our political parties, and support it to deliver massive electoral victories for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Basiru added.
