Osun 2026: Oyinlola Leads PDP Heavyweights to Endorse APC’s Oyebamiji

Former Governor leads high-profile endorsement of APC candidate while insisting faction remains in PDP as Osun West candidates battle for votes

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State led by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola has formally declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, ahead of Saturday’s August 15 governorship election. The endorsement, announced on Sunday at the WOCDIF Event Centre in Osogbo, represents a major political realignment that could significantly impact the poll. Oyinlola was joined by prominent PDP stalwarts including former Secretary to the State Government Fatai Akinbade, former PDP National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Tajudeen Oladipo, former Deputy Governor Mrs Titi Laoye Ponle, and former Minister of Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan. The event also attracted senior APC figures, including Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, former PDP Board of Trustees member Pa Shuaib Oyedokun, and OAU Governing Council Chairman Hon. Adejare Bello.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Oyinlola stressed that their decision was not a defection from the PDP but a matter of conscience driven by the larger interest of Osun State. “Let me repeat that our decision today should not be interpreted as an abandonment of the PDP. We remain PDP members. We are not here to announce our defection from the PDP. Rather, we are exercising our conscience as stakeholders who have served this state and who believe that, at this particular moment, Osun State requires a different direction,” Oyinlola stated. Oyinlola traced the group’s grievances to their efforts in bringing the current administration to power, lamenting that the initial vision had been undermined by what he described as lack of inclusiveness in governance. “We were among the major stakeholders who worked tirelessly towards the emergence of the present administration under the platform of the PDP. We believed in that project. We supported it. We mobilised our people for it. We invested our time, energy and political capital in it because we believed that it represented the aspirations of our people. But unfortunately, along the line, things began to fall apart,” Oyinlola said.

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The former governor emphasized that sustainable governance requires carrying all stakeholders along. “One of the major issues that have created this unfortunate situation, in our considered view, is the lack of inclusiveness in the governance of our state. We believe strongly that no party or government can succeed sustainably when it does not carry its people and leaders along. The PDP has always been a party built around consultation, participation and collective responsibility. These are values that we must continue to uphold,” he added. Oyinlola also made a philosophical appeal, urging members to prioritise the state over party loyalty. “Politics is temporary, but Osun State is permanent. Political parties may change, political alliances may change, administrations may come and go, but the people of Osun will remain. Our responsibility as leaders is therefore to make decisions that will protect the future of our people,” he declared.

The group’s endorsement of Oyebamiji came with conditions. Oyinlola urged the APC candidate to focus on good governance, economic development, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, and inclusive government where every part of Osun feels represented. “You must put the people first and run an inclusive government. You must listen to the people. You must ensure that every part of Osun feels represented in your government,” Oyinlola charged. Responding to the endorsement, Oyebamiji promised to establish an inclusive administration that would accommodate diverse stakeholders across the state. “Those seated here are Osun’s stakeholders. There is no way one will abandon your wisdom and experiences if he wants to succeed as governor. I am assuring you that we will not abandon anyone in the running of the state. We won’t restrict governance to just a family or a community,” Oyebamiji said. He also dismissed rigging allegations, stating that “whoever is raising rigging allegations is expressing fear of defeat that is staring them in the face.”

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, welcomed the endorsement, describing Oyinlola as a grassroots politician and national figure whose political antecedents could not be underestimated. Oyetola urged residents to remain peaceful and resolute ahead of the election. In their separate remarks, Akinbade and Oladipo called on all members of the PDP in the state to cast their votes overwhelmingly for Oyebamiji. The duo attributed their decision to pitch their tent with the APC as the best at the moment, not for selfish interest but for the good of the state and her citizens.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Oyebamiji Campaign Council, Hon. Wole Oke, publicly apologized to the PDP leaders for defying their instructions to support Governor Ademola Adeleke during the 2022 election cycle. Oke, a former PDP member, urged members of the PDP faction to take the campaign to their wards and polling units and mobilize support for Oyebamiji. It is worth noting that Governor Ademola Adeleke is no longer contesting on the PDP platform. Following his defection from the PDP, the incumbent governor is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party, fundamentally altering the state’s political calculations. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 14 candidates for the election, with neither the PDP nor the Labour Party fielding a candidate. The contest has emerged as a fiercely contested three-way race involving Adeleke, APC’s Oyebamiji, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flag bearer, Najeem Salaam—all of whom hail from the Osun West Senatorial District.

Efforts to reach the Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, for a reaction to the development were unsuccessful as calls did not go through and he had not responded to messages as of filing time.

Osun 2026: Oyinlola Leads PDP Heavyweights to Endorse APC’s Oyebamiji

2027 Elections: INEC Gives Parties 3-Day Extension to Submit Gov, Assembly Candidates

The race for the 2027 general elections has entered a fresh phase as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) extended the deadline for political parties to submit the names of their governorship and State House of Assembly candidates by three days.

The commission moved the deadline from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following appeals by political parties for more time to complete the nomination and upload process.

INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.

According to the commission, the extension was necessary to accommodate parties that were yet to conclude the submission of their candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The submission window, which, according to the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the general election, was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the statement said.

“The extension follows growing appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process.”

Meanwhile, INEC has suspended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Haruna said voters who had applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs had until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.

He explained that the deadline would enable the commission to compile data on downloaded PVCs and establish the final statistics of collected cards ahead of the election.

“This is to allow the commission to compile the data of downloaded PVCs for final statistics of total PVCs collected ahead of the August 15th Osun governorship election,” he said.

The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas.

The affected cards were reportedly carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two PVC collection centres.

INEC, however, assured voters that the stolen cards could not be used to cast ballots.

“The commission also wishes to state that replacement downloadable PVCs have been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central local government areas whose cards were carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two centres. The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” it said.

Haruna recalled that PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level on July 22 and was initially scheduled to end on July 28.

The exercise was subsequently extended to July 31 following complaints over large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres.

It was later moved to the local government level, where the exercise ran from August 1 to 7.

INEC reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State.

Osun APC Rally Shooting: Police Release Environment Commissioner on Bail

The Osun State Police Command has released the State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Moyowa Adejoorin, on bail, following his arrest in connection with the shooting that disrupted an All Progressives Congress rally in Ilesa.

Adejoorin was arrested on Saturday after gunshots reportedly rang out at the APC gathering, leaving four people injured, including a teenager, Tobi Ilesanmi.

The police said the commissioner was arrested at the scene after operatives cordoned off the area and recovered several exhibits, including expended cartridges and caps reportedly belonging to personnel of the Osun State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun.

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, had said Adejoorin was arrested after his vehicle was stopped at the scene alongside an Amotekun operative who was allegedly involved in the shooting.

He said, “Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene and cordoned off the area before some exhibits were recovered, which included expended cartridges and Amotekun personnel caps.

“Also, Mr Adejoorin was arrested at the scene and taken to the command for questioning as part of the investigation process.”

The development sparked public interest after a video emerged on social media on Sunday showing the commissioner leaving the police command, fuelling speculation over his status.

However, speaking with Vanguard, Ojelabi confirmed that Adejoorin had been released on bail, while investigations into the incident continued.

“It is true that the commissioner has been released on bail today, but I am yet to clear the situation with the Amotekun personnel arrested with him,” he said.

The police have yet to disclose the identities of those responsible for the shooting or establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The shooting has also heightened concerns over security at political gatherings in the state, with the police expected to determine how the incident occurred and whether any of those arrested would face further action.

The investigation is said to be ongoing.