Osun APC Forms Parallel Campaign Council Amid Internal Rift

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has established a 168-member parallel presidential and parliamentary campaign council to mobilize support for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election. The state party chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, appointed governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji as Director-General and himself as Deputy Director-General.

This move follows a dispute over a separate campaign council inaugurated on October 22 by Governor Ademola Adeleke. Lawal claimed the state party leadership was not consulted regarding Adeleke's council, which excluded several prominent figures including former governor Adegboyega Oyetola. While Governor Adeleke pledged support for President Tinubu, he explicitly ruled out supporting APC legislative candidates in the state.

The new parallel council immediately faced internal opposition. Four executive members—Wole Adunola, Adesola Ayangbile, Rasheed Adeniji, and Abiola Ololade—rejected the list, arguing it ignores party guidelines and excludes statutory members of the State Working Committee. These officials claim the new structure contradicts a presidential directive that named Governor Adeleke as the council's Director-General in the state. The dissenting executives have called for consultations with National Secretary Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru to resolve the friction and ensure party unity.