It is no longer news that the leader of the party, APC in Osun state, who doubles as the minister of marine and blue economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola was in Osun state during the week. Surprisingly, in what can be described as a brazen display of political insincerity and clandestine favouritism, the former governor which newspaper reports published by his former spokesperson have suggested would no longer be contesting in the 2026 Osun governorship election has shown publicly his true colours in Osun APC. Against the backdrop of preaching unity, indivisibility, peace, and cohesion at the stakeholder`s meeting, the present reality shows Oyetola is orchestrating a calculated scheme to impose his pre-anointed aspirant on the party. This approach runs contrary to the spirit and letter of internal democracy and threatens to set Osun APC on a perilous path to fragmentation and fractionization.
At a stakeholder`s meeting held at the Tinubu Shetimma office popularly known as Ilerioluwa Campaign Office, a property solely owned and built by Oyetola where key party leaders, including former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, members of the APC Igbimo Agba led by their chairman, Elder Sola Akinwumi, the state APC executives under Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, APC Local Government Chairmen, and all the reinstated Council Chairmen were in attendance. This same edifice has been conveniently transformed into the operational base of one Bola Oyebamiji, a governorship aspirant who enjoys unfettered access endorsement from the minister, where he mouthed the sermon about peace and oneness of the party, isn’t that deceit?
It is on incontrovertible record that Bola Oyebamiji has not only been receiving visitors at the Oyetola Ilerioluwa office but has also hosted purported endorsement meetings involving the one organised by former House of Assembly members. This naked and pretentious partiality is an affront to every other aspirant in the party, particularly genuine members of the APC. The likes of Dotun Babayemi, Gboyega Alabi, Ajibola Basiru, Babajide Omoworare, and Mudasiru Hussein are being tactically undermined by this deliberate manipulation of the minister whose message is in direct confrontation with his acts and conducts, using his personal resources and structures to the exclusive advantage of a favoured stooge.
READ ALSO: OSUN GUBER VERDICT: Ooni Congratulates Adeleke, Lauds Judiciary, Praises Oyetola
The question now begging for an answer is, why would Oyetola, who claims to advocate neutrality and unity, permit such usage of his private facility, already tainted with political symbolism? Why would a supposed statesman deceitfully and simultaneously want to be a referee and an active player in the same game? Such a paradoxical posture not only delegitimizes his so-called peaceful and unity calls and but also brands him as a partisan actor bent on desecrating the principles of fairness, equity, and internal democracy.
We challenge Mr. Oyetola to answer the following critical questions, if indeed he is advocating for peace and unity, why has he allowed his private edifice to become the operational headquarters of an aspirant? If indeed he seeks the indivisibility of the party, why has he lent the weight of his personal and political influence to only one aspirant? If indeed he upholds democratic tenets, why then is he engaging in a clandestine endorsement strategy under the guise of neutrality?
READ ALSO: Tinubu Redeploys Oyetola, Momoh To Other Ministries In Cabinet Reshuffle
The APC in Osun State deserves better. We will not allow our party to be reduced to a mere extension of one man’s political dynasty. We will resist with every fibre of our political being any attempt to impose a candidate through the backdoor. The future of our party and state cannot be mortgaged on the altar of personal loyalty and blind favouritism.
We are driven by an irrevocable commitment to truth, justice, and the preservation of democratic ideals within our dear party, APC in Osun State and view this hypocritical drama of the minister with utmost disdain and warns that the party cannot afford to indulge in another round of internal sabotage ahead of the critical 2026 gubernatorial election. If allowed to fester, Oyetola’s hide-and-seek antics will precipitate another round of bitter divisions, disenchantment, and electoral misfortune like past experiences. A man who has clearly compromised the impartiality expected of a true leader has forfeited any moral authority to act as an impartial arbiter of peace, oneness and unity.
Whether genuine or counterfeit, Oyetola’s covert endorsement of Bola Oyebamiji is a betrayal of the collective trust reposed in him by APC members in Osun state. We vehemently reject any attempt to mortgage the future of Osun APC on the altar of personal loyalty and parochial interests. Our party deserves a level playing field where competence, credibility, and capacity will be the yardsticks and not loyalty to an individual’s whims and caprices.
Considering these developments, we hereby call on the State Executive Council of the APC, the Igbimo Agba, and all stakeholders of goodwill to rise and safeguard the sanctity of the party. The selection process for the 2026 governorship election must be transparent, democratic, and free from the undue influence of any individual, be it a minister or former governor, no matter how highly placed such person can be. Only through neutrality and fairness can Osun APC reclaim its glory and secure victory at the 2026 polls. Let it be on record that if this issue goes unresolved, this development will threaten the fragile peace, unity, and cohesion of the APC in Osun State.
Let it be known that neutrality is not optional. It is mandatory. The time to rise, speak, and act is now. We must let all APC members know that impartiality is the oxygen upon which the credibility of the 2026 primary will rest. Finally, we admonish all genuine lovers of democracy within Osun APC that the time to reclaim the soul of our party from those who seek to hijack it for selfish ends is nearer. Lastly, we are asking the question, who is deceiving who?
Signed
Oyinade Adeyeni
Okerewe, Ife East LG, Osun State
Publicity Secretary
Muritala Olasunkanmi Ward 8, Isokan LG
Coordinator
Osun APC Frontiers
