In a strategic political move ahead of the 2026 elections, President Bola Tinubu has formally endorsed Bola Oyebamiji, the newly selected governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State. The President’s directive is unequivocal: reclaim the state for the “progressives’ fold.” This call to action, delivered through spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, underscores the high-stakes battle for control of Osun, a politically volatile state that has oscillated between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in recent election cycles.
Oyebamiji’s candidacy was solidified through an affirmation primary in Osogbo, chaired by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo. The process, notable for its lack of a contested vote, points to a carefully orchestrated consensus within the party’s state chapter. Tinubu specifically praised this display of unity, highlighting the “reconciliation” that characterized the event and commending other aspirants who stepped down. This internal cohesion is not merely ceremonial; it is a tactical imperative. Osun’s electorate has proven sensitive to party infighting, and a fractured APC would significantly disadvantage the candidate against a likely incumbent administration.
The President’s advice for Oyebamiji to be “magnanimous in victory” and embrace former aspirants is a critical component of the roadmap to 2026. Political analysts often cite post-primary grievances and the failure to integrate losing factions as a primary cause of electoral defeat in Nigerian politics. Tinubu’s message, therefore, serves as both congratulations and a strategic playbook. The deeper context here is the legacy of the 2022 Osun gubernatorial election, where the APC lost to the PDP’s Ademola Adeleke—a defeat the national party leadership is keen to reverse.
Tinubu’s statement, “The journey to reclaim Osun… has begun,” frames the upcoming contest as a redemption mission. This narrative aims to mobilize the party’s base and frame the election as a national priority for the APC. The involvement of a sitting Edo State Governor to oversee the primary further signals the direct investment of the party’s national machinery in Osun’s outcome. For Oyebamiji, the challenge now extends beyond the general election; he must immediately transform from a consensus candidate into a unifying figure capable of mending fences, crafting a compelling policy vision for the state, and mounting a formidable challenge to reclaim a key southwestern state for his party and president.
(Based on a report by Muhyideen Jimoh for the News Agency of Nigeria)
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