EXCLUSIVE: Tinubu meets Osun APC governorship aspirants, calls for peace ahead of primaries

By Innocent Raphael –

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday night met with governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, seeking to promote unity and prevent internal disputes ahead of the party’s upcoming primary election.

The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, saw the attendance of all aspirants, including former Commissioner for Economic Development in Osun State, Chief Muniru Oyebanji, widely seen as a frontrunner for the party’s ticket.

Tensions within the party had escalated following reports that Oyebanji had been adopted as the preferred candidate. About 14 aspirants, reportedly led by former APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, had opposed the alleged endorsement. Omisore, who has consistently resisted the purported adoption, was absent from the meeting.

Also present was the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former governor of Osun State, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola.

President Tinubu called on all stakeholders to prioritise peace, reconciliation, and collective victory, stressing that party unity would be crucial to success in the 2026 governorship election.

The meeting comes after seven governorship aspirants, who had planned to contest the APC primaries scheduled for Saturday, December 13, were disqualified last week. In a unanimous decision, the party’s seven-member screening committee, led by Obinna Uzor, barred seven of the nine aspirants who had expressed interest in running.

The decision has sparked controversy within and outside the party, given Osun State’s complex political landscape and the profiles of those affected. Among the disqualified aspirants are Iyiola Omisore, Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Benedict Alabi, Rasheed Adegoke, and Babajide Omoworare.

Only two aspirants, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (popularly known as AMBO), were cleared to contest the primaries. Oyebamiji previously served as Commissioner for Finance under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and was the immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).