The immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, has emerged as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
Oyebamiji’s emergence took place on Saturday at the party’s governorship primary held at the premises of Ebunoluwa Group of Schools in Osogbo, the Osun State capital in southwestern Nigeria. His candidacy was formalized following a motion jointly moved by two fellow aspirants, Kunle Adegoke, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Senator Babajide Omoworare, both of whom openly endorsed a consensus arrangement.
The motion was subsequently subjected to a voice vote by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governorship Primary Committee and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo. Party members present at the venue overwhelmingly supported the motion, paving the way for Oyebamiji’s confirmation.
Declaring the outcome, Okpebholo stated, “By the power conferred on me, I present to you Bola Oyebamiji, as the governorship candidate of our party.” His announcement was greeted with cheers and applause from delegates and party stakeholders in attendance.
Okay News reports that the Osun State primary had earlier been projected to produce a candidate through affirmation, a position publicly outlined by Okpebholo upon his arrival in Osogbo to supervise the process. He arrived alongside the co-chairman of the committee and Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as well as other high-ranking officials drawn from across the country.
Among those present were Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat representing the Lagos State Governor, and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, reflecting the national weight attached to the Osun governorship contest.
Earlier in the week, one thousand six hundred and sixty delegates had emerged to participate in the December thirteenth governorship primary. Political calculations within the party shifted significantly after indications that all seven aspirants agreed to rally behind a single flagbearer following a late-night consultation with Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja.
Adding to the momentum, former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Iyiola Omisore, publicly endorsed the consensus arrangement during a televised interview. Omisore, who was among the aspirants earlier disqualified by the party’s screening committee, said he accepted the decision “following guidance from President Bola Tinubu,” underscoring internal unity within the ruling party as preparations intensify for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
