Adeleke, Oyetola in Focus as Report Reveals Osun APC Power-Sharing Plan

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reported decision to place Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke at the centre of his 2027 re-election campaign in the state has triggered a fresh power struggle within the All Progressives Congress (APC), amid reports of a proposed political arrangement that could reshape the party’s leadership and distribution of appointments.

According to a report by Leadership, negotiations allegedly brokered by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, have produced a proposed power-sharing arrangement involving Adeleke, former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru and former party national secretary Iyiola Omisore.

Under the reported arrangement, Adeleke would coordinate Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Osun and secure greater influence over political appointments and party affairs, despite remaining a member of the Accord Party, which he joined after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The report also suggested that Adeleke could defect to the APC in 2027 after the elections, potentially bringing his political loyalists with him. However, no formal defection announcement has been established, and the alleged agreement should not be treated as a concluded deal.

The reported negotiations represent a potential shift in the balance of power within Osun APC, where Oyetola has exercised considerable influence over party leadership and candidate selection.

Oyetola, who currently serves as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, was a central figure in the party’s political structure before the latest developments. His influence extended to the selection of the APC’s candidates for the August 15, 2026, Osun governorship election and other elective positions.

The APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, lost the election to Adeleke, who contested on the Accord Party platform. The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Adeleke the winner with 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, a margin of 66,252 votes.

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The result strengthened arguments among some APC stakeholders that the governor’s electoral standing and grassroots support could be important to Tinubu’s efforts to improve the party’s performance in Osun in 2027.

Under the reported power-sharing proposal, Adeleke would nominate chairpersons in 20 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyetola, Omisore and Basiru would share influence over the remaining 10. The proposed arrangement would also cover the nomination of councillors in the affected local government areas.

The report said the proposed distribution would reduce Oyetola’s previous influence while giving Basiru and Omisore a larger role in the party’s political arrangements.

Another sensitive issue reportedly addressed during the negotiations is the prolonged dispute over control of Osun’s local governments. The proposed understanding would see the parties explore an out-of-court settlement, subject to the appropriate court process and approval of any terms reached.

The reported negotiations have not, however, established that the parties have concluded a binding agreement on the local government dispute or that any proposed settlement has received judicial approval.

Basiru has reportedly urged members of his Alubarika political group to cooperate with Adeleke in coordinating Tinubu’s re-election campaign. At a meeting in Osogbo, he was quoted as saying that the President had chosen the governor for the assignment and that party members should put aside personal ambitions in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid.

Basiru’s reported position has added weight to the emerging arrangement, although the extent to which all APC factions will accept the proposed distribution of influence remains uncertain.

The governor’s inauguration of a 344-member campaign council for Tinubu’s re-election bid has also exposed disagreements among party stakeholders. Oyetola and Oyebamiji were among prominent figures reported absent from the event, alongside APC State Chairman Tajudeen Lawal and other party leaders.

The Osun APC had complained that it was not adequately consulted before the inauguration, raising concerns about the process through which the campaign structure was established.

Nevertheless, several prominent political figures attended the event, including former governor Adebisi Akande, Basiru and Omisore. Akande reportedly said the party had lacked direction until Adeleke stepped in to coordinate the presidential campaign.

Basiru also defended the arrangement, urging party members to respect Tinubu’s choice of campaign coordinator and work together towards the 2027 election.

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The development has generated mixed reactions among political stakeholders. Some have welcomed Adeleke’s appointment as an opportunity to unite rival political camps behind Tinubu, while others have called for wider consultation to prevent the new structure from deepening existing divisions.

Adeleke’s position is particularly notable because he remains an Accord Party governor while coordinating the re-election campaign of the APC’s presidential candidate. His support for Tinubu predates the latest reported negotiations.

After his August 2026 governorship victory, Adeleke publicly expressed support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition, citing the President’s regional background and the need to complete major federal infrastructure projects in the South-West.

The governor has previously denied that his support resulted from a political agreement with Tinubu. He said his position was motivated by his desire to see federal projects in the region completed.

His campaign team has also rejected claims of a secret political pact with the Presidency, maintaining that the governor’s support was based on his assessment of Tinubu’s performance and policies.

The distinction is important as the reported negotiations involve claims about political appointments, local government influence and the future leadership of the Osun APC that have not all been independently confirmed.

Other political stakeholders have urged the emerging coalition to avoid sidelining existing party leaders. Some have argued that the campaign council should provide space for rival factions to participate without allowing disagreements over appointments or political ambitions to undermine the shared objective of supporting Tinubu.

The coalition’s effectiveness will depend on how the participating groups manage their differences and whether the proposed arrangements translate into practical cooperation beyond the campaign.

For now, Adeleke’s appointment as Tinubu’s Osun campaign coordinator is a reported political development, while the broader claims of a secret power-sharing deal and a future defection to the APC remain subject to confirmation.

The unfolding negotiations could significantly alter Osun’s political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election, but the final terms, the position of Oyetola’s camp and Adeleke’s long-term party affiliation remain unresolved.