The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2026 Osun State governorship primary election committee, Governor Monday Okpebholo, has said the party’s candidate for the election will emerge through affirmation.
LeadNaija News reports that Okpebholo disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with APC stakeholders in Osogbo, the state capital, ahead of the party’s governorship primary scheduled for Saturday, December 18.
The Edo State Governor urged party members to cooperate with the primary election committee to ensure a peaceful exercise devoid of rancour.
The APC has fixed its governorship primary for Saturday in Osogbo, where delegates are expected to converge to affirm the party’s flagbearer.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by several party leaders and aspirants, including disqualified aspirants such as a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Benedict Alabi; a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye; and the APC State Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal.
Also present was a former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, who is regarded as the leading aspirant in the race.
Cleared and Disqualified Aspirants
Oyebamiji and a former Ifelodun State Constituency lawmaker, Mulikat Abiola, had earlier been cleared by the APC screening committee to contest the primary.
However, seven other aspirants, including a former National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore, were disqualified during the screening exercise conducted at the party’s national headquarters.
While explaining the process to be adopted for the primary, Okpebholo said the exercise would be conducted by consensus.
“This gathering reflects our collective resolve, not only to strengthen internal democracy but to reclaim Osun State into the progressive fold and restore purposeful leadership,” he said.
He added, “The purpose of this meeting is to formally brief you on the arrival of the primary election committee in Osun State and to outline the modalities guiding Saturday’s exercise. Transparency is key, and we want every stakeholder to understand the process publicly.”
Okpebholo further explained that all accredited delegates would be involved in affirming the party’s candidate.
“As you are aware, the mode of the primary will be by consensus. All 1,660 accredited delegates will converge at the designated venue to affirm the choice of our party’s candidate for the next gubernatorial election,” he said.
He stressed that strict accreditation measures would be enforced at the venue.
“Let me emphasise that no delegates will be allowed into the venue without proper accreditation. This is to ensure fairness and accountability throughout the process,” Okpebholo stated.
The committee chairman called on party leaders, stakeholders, aspirants, delegates and members to support the primary election committee and cooperate fully with officials handling the exercise.
Earlier, the co-chairman of the primary election committee and Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Ayedatiwa, appealed to members of the Osun APC to set aside their differences.+See more details
Ayedatiwa urged party members to work together with the committee in the interest of the party and the successful conduct of the governorship primary.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
