BAYO AGBOOLA in Ibadan writes that political activities in Osun state have peaked as the gladiators have increased the tempo of consultations, declaring interests to run for the number one position of the state currently occupied by Senator Jackson Adeleke
Opposition plans hitch-free primary
Come August 2026, the people of Osun state across the 30 local governments and the Ife East area office, will be going for another governorship election and politicians within the registered political parties in the state are already showing intent to slug it out with the incumbent governor of the state, Senator Jackson Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Towards ensuring a free and fair primaries in the party in Osun state,
the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Caucus on Monday, October 6, held a closed door meeting with the aspirants at the Ilobu residence of the Caucus Chairman, Engineer Sola Akinwumi, to discuss preparations and unity within the party.
At the meeting, only six of the APC governorship aspirants namely: Senator Jide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke, (SAN), Prince Dotun Babayemi, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, Peter Babalola, and Senator Mudashiru Hussein, were in attendance.
Others including the immediate past APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, the incumbent APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; former deputy governor of the state, Benedict Alabi; Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; and US-based Professor of Mathematics, Rafiu Durodoye, were said to have reportedly sent apologies for not attending the parley.
The Chairman of the APC Caucus, Engineer Sola Akinwumi, while speaking with journalists after the closed-door meeting, stressed that the gathering was part of early consultations to ensure a smooth and unified process leading up to the November 2025 party primaries in the state.
“We are here purposely because of the APC in the state, in preparation towards the primary in November 2025. We are preparing the aspirants for the primary election that will be held this year, and the message is that we should all work as one family.
“What people should expect is a rancour-free exercise; it will go smoothly without any issue. We have 11 gubernatorial aspirants. Our aspirants are gentlemen; they are responsible men. At the end of the day, when anybody emerges, they will all support such a person for APC to win at the end of the day.”
Omisore declares
The following day, Tuesday, October 7, one of the APC governorship aspirants, a former Deputy Governor of Osun state and the immediate past APC National Secretary, Senator Omisore arrived the APC state secretariat in Osogbo, Osun state capital to officially declare his intention to contest the 2026 governorship election in the state.
Ahead of his official declaration of intention, the former APC National Secretary and former Senator representing Osun East senatorial district held consultations with various stakeholders in the APC in the state including group of women leaders, Special Advisers, Special Assistants drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state.
APC ward youth leaders back Omisore
There were also a cross section of elected chairmen and councillors on the platform of APC and ward chairmen after which youth leaders from across the state led by the state youth leader entered a meeting where Senator Omisore was adopted as their governorship candidate for the 2026 election.
The motion to adopt Senator Iyiola Omisore as their candidate was moved by the state youth leaders and seconded by the state deputy youth leaders, expressing confidence in Senator Omisore’s ability to represent the party’s interests.
They said that Omisore was a strong and credible candidate who can hold his own against any opponent and compete favorably with Governor Adeleke, the incumbent Governor of the State, the PDP candidate in the 2026 governorship race. The motion was unanimously agreed upon by all the youth leaders present at the meeting.
Coordinator of Omisore Movement, Hon Ajibola Famurewa, in his remarks at the declaration of intention said, “the people here today are members of the APC from all the wards across the state.
“These are the people that asked Omisore to come out and vie for the ticket of the party. We are sure that with their support, Omisore will emerge as the party’s candidate.
Senator Omisore, few days to his official declaration of intention in a post on his X handle, hinted that the formal announcement of his 2026 Osun state governorship seat intent would take place on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the Osun APC secretariat in Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo.
The programme themed: “Fix the Broken, Restore Our Dreams” and that his campaign would focus on restoring hope, strengthening governance, and delivering a brighter future for the people of the state.
“My beloved people of Osun state, after deep reflection and wide consultations, I have decided to formally declare my intention to contest for the governor of Osun state in 2026 under our great party, the All Progressives Congress,” Omisore wrote.
He continued, “This is not just my mission, it is a collective one. I humbly invite you to join me as we take this bold step towards the Osun Rescue Mission 2026.”
At the official declaration of intention, Senator Omisore expressed his readiness to give Osun the needed leadership for the state to move forward and maintain its rightful position in the comity of states in Nigeria.
He said he would rescue Osun state from stagnation, nepotism and hypocrisy if elected as Osun governor and that with his political theme, “Osun Rescue Mission 2026”, he was culturally, politically, intellectually and firmly rooted to face the reality of governance for the development of the state.
“I know the right paths to take in order to move Osun state forward in all ramifications.
“Osun is our home, our heart, I’m here to work with you, for schools that lift our children, roads that don’t betray us, markets that thrive, and jobs that give our youth a reason to stay. This isn’t my journey alone, it’s ours. Let’s build the Osun we love.
“Today wasn’t just a declaration; it was a celebration of unity, a moment that showed what Osun people can do when they come together. With Iyiola Omisore leading the way, the road to 2026 feels like a shared path towards a stronger, prouder Osun, a home where every hope matters”.
Senator Omisore stressed: “The people here today are members of the APC from all the wards across the state. These are the people that asked Omisore to come out and vie for the ticket of the party.
“Governance is a serious business and as a former deputy governor, I have the most experience among other good aspirants of the party to fly the ticket and deliver victory come next year”.
“I am expecting Osun state people to vote for APC en masse come August 8, 2026. This is to show preparedness of the core APC members in the state, to show how ready we are to ensure that I become the party candidate by God’s grace in December, and to further strengthen the belief of the people in the coming APC government in Osun state.”
With Senator Omisore joining the league of APC governorship aspirants who have officially declared their intention for the party’s primaries holding next month, November, it is expected that others will in few days time come up to declare their intention as well as tell the party and the people of the state what they have in stock for the state regarding the 2026 Osun governorship election.
