‎The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has constituted a 168-member campaign council headed by its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to coordinate President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and mobilise support for the party’s candidates in the 2027 general elections.

‎The development comes amid a lingering disagreement within the party over the composition and leadership of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council inaugurated in the state by Governor Ademola Adeleke on October 22.

‎Under the newly constituted arrangement, Oyebamiji will serve as Director-General, while the state APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, has been appointed Deputy Director-General.

‎Oyebamiji’s running mate in the August 15 governorship election, Benjamin Adereti, and Kehinde Olamolu were named Assistant Director-Generals I and II, respectively.

‎The party’s three senatorial candidates and nine House of Representatives candidates are also members of the council.

‎Other prominent figures listed include former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Foluke Etteh; former deputy governors Adeleke Adewoyin, Iyiola Omisore, Titi Laoye-Ponnle and Adegboyega Alabi; retired General Alani Akinrinade; Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode; and the APC spokesperson in the state, Kola Olabisi.

‎The composition of the council was announced in a statement signed by Lawal and obtained in Osogbo on Monday.

‎Lawal said the decision was aimed at strengthening the party’s mobilisation efforts and ensuring victory for Tinubu and other APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.

‎He explained that the council was established following the inauguration of the national Presidential Campaign Council by Tinubu on October 14 in Abuja and the subsequent inauguration of the Osun State chapter by Adeleke eight days later.

‎According to him, the party selected its leaders and stakeholders to consolidate efforts towards securing votes for the President and APC candidates contesting legislative seats.

‎The development follows controversy surrounding Adeleke’s inauguration of the Tinubu campaign council, during which the governor was named its coordinator.

‎The arrangement generated disagreement among APC members and stakeholders, particularly after some prominent party figures, including former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Oyebamiji and Lawal, were absent from the inauguration.

‎Lawal had subsequently complained that the state party leadership was not consulted before the council was constituted.

‎At the inauguration, however, Adeleke declared his commitment to Tinubu’s re-election but ruled out supporting APC candidates seeking legislative seats in Osun.

‎Those present at the event included the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru; former governor Bisi Akande; and former deputy governors Omisore and Laoye-Ponnle.

‎Meanwhile, political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections have intensified in the state, with party leaders and various groups stepping up mobilisation efforts.

‎Oyetola had recently urged APC members to close ranks and strengthen grassroots mobilisation, expressing confidence that Tinubu could secure 1.5 million votes in Osun State.

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