A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Abiola Ogundokun, has said the emergence of former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2026 governorship election has effectively stalled Governor Ademola Adeleke’s second-term ambition.
Ogundokun made the assertion in Osogbo on Saturday shortly after Oyebamiji was adopted as the APC flag bearer at a well-attended stakeholders’ event.
According to him, the adoption of Oyebamiji marked a turning point in Osun’s political landscape and signalled the end of the current administration’s stay in office.
He advised Dr Deji Adeleke against expending resources in support of his brother’s re-election bid, describing such efforts as futile. Ogundokun said the state needed a more capable leader, adding that Oyebamiji possessed the competence and experience required to govern Osun effectively.
The APC chieftain also praised the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, describing him as a visionary leader whose calm approach to leadership, he said, was often misunderstood as weakness.
Ogundokun, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, said the smooth and consensus-driven emergence of Oyebamiji reflected the firm grip of the APC’s national leadership under President Bola Tinubu.
He noted that while the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties in Osun were grappling with internal crises, discipline and unity remained central to the APC’s operations.
“The emergence of Oyebamiji sends a strong message that the Osun APC is united and solid. Many expected the process to divide the party, but instead, it has made us stronger,” he said.
Ogundokun further commended Oyetola for his inclusive leadership style, noting that the consensus process could have fractured the party under less patient leadership.
He applauded all aspirants for placing party supremacy above personal ambition, adding that dialogue, fairness and constructive engagement ensured a smooth process.
According to him, the APC’s focus is now on reclaiming Osun State from the Adeleke administration to enable residents enjoy what he described as meaningful dividends of democracy, similar to those recorded during Oyetola’s tenure.
He also called on Nigerians to continue supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying current economic indicators suggested a gradual recovery.
Ogundokun cited improvements in fuel availability, ongoing infrastructure projects, increased investment in education and healthcare, and enhanced security funding as evidence that the President was building on existing foundations and steering the country in the right direction.
