The inauguration of a 344-member committee tasked with coordinating President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in Osun State has exposed continuing disagreements within the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the absence of several influential party stakeholders from the event.
Naija News reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke, who belongs to the Accord Party, formally inaugurated the campaign committee in Osogbo on Thursday after being appointed by Tinubu to lead his re-election mobilisation efforts in the state.
Among the prominent personalities missing at the ceremony were former Osun governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Bola Oyebamiji, the APC candidate in the 2026 governorship election; and Francis Fadahunsi, senator representing Osun East.
Other notable absentees included Osun APC Chairman Tajudeen Lawal, former state Assembly Speaker Timothy Owoeye, Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency representative Oluwole Oke, Federal Housing Authority Executive Director for Project Implementation Remi Omowaiye, and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Adebayo Adeleke.
Their failure to attend came a day after Lawal publicly expressed dissatisfaction over the inauguration, alleging that the state party leadership had not been officially notified about the programme.
Nevertheless, the gathering attracted several prominent APC figures, with former governor and founding National Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, heading the delegation.
Other attendees included APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, former National Secretary Iyiola Omisore, former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin, Babajide Omoworare, and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.
The list also featured Osun Central Senatorial Leader Adeoye Adelakun, former federal lawmakers Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo, former Assembly Speaker Wale Afolabi, and ex-NABTEB Registrar Professor Olu Aina.
Political representatives from allied parties were equally present, including former PDP National Secretary Professor Wale Oladipo, Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi, and Accord Party Chairman in the state, Victor Akande.
Reacting to concerns surrounding the absence of certain leaders, Adelakun, who represented the state chairman in his capacity as vice-chairman, suggested that some of those missing might not have known about the scheduled inauguration.
He stated that those who attended would communicate the details of the meeting to their colleagues, adding that their non-appearance should not automatically be interpreted as opposition to Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Adelakun further acknowledged the need for political cooperation, admitting that the APC had been unable to secure electoral victories independently in Osun throughout the last three election cycles.
He maintained that working with other political groups would be necessary to obtain the votes required to support Tinubu’s re-election in the state.
Akande, in his remarks, argued that Tinubu deserved another four-year mandate as a Yoruba man occupying Nigeria’s presidency. He also revealed that Adeleke had been assigned the responsibility of mobilising two million votes for the president.
Basiru urged APC members to put aside personal differences, political ambitions and competing interests, insisting that the governor’s appointment reflected Tinubu’s decision.
He maintained that party members must cooperate with Adeleke to ensure the success of the campaign, stressing that securing the president’s return to office should outweigh individual ambitions and disagreements.
