Oyetola, Oyebamiji absent as Adeleke inaugurates Tinubu campaign council

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2026 election, Bola Oyebamiji; and the party’s Osun State chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, were among prominent political figures absent on Thursday as Governor Ademola Adeleke inaugurated a 344-member campaign council for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Other notable absentees included Senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, and former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye.

Former Governor Bisi Akande, however, led several APC chieftains to the inauguration, including the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; former National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore; and former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin. Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and Accord Party also attended.

Akande urged eligible voters across the South-West to support Tinubu’s re-election, expressing hope that the President would secure a second term. Basiru also called on political stakeholders to set aside their differences and support Adeleke’s appointment as the state coordinator of Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

“There is no ambition or ego that is greater than ensuring President Bola Tinubu is re-elected. It is very imperative for us to support the President to succeed for a second term. Today, the resources now available to sub-nationals, like Osun, have made it possible for us to meet our current expenditure,” Basiru said.

Adeleke said the council aimed to surpass the 1.5 million votes previously promised to Tinubu, describing the alliance involving Accord, APC and PDP structures in the state as a strong coalition capable of delivering an overwhelming victory for the President.

He clarified that the alliance was limited to the presidential election, allowing participating parties to support their respective candidates in legislative contests. The governor also said discussions to resolve the state’s local government crisis had reached an advanced stage.

Speaking on behalf of the APC chairman, Adeoye Adelakun said those who attended would brief the absent leaders, adding that collaboration was necessary to secure votes for Tinubu. The inauguration came amid complaints by the state APC leadership that it was not briefed about the event and learnt of it through a social media post by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.