Osun 2026: Oyetola opens up on APC Governorship ticket
Former Governor of Osun State and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has declared that he will not be contesting the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the upcoming 2026 election in the state.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting of the party held over the weekend in Osogbo, Oyetola urged all aspirants vying for the party’s ticket to shun division and embrace unity. He called for a rancour-free contest and encouraged aspirants to remain “their brother’s keeper.”
“I am no longer interested in vying for the governorship ticket,” Oyetola affirmed. “You should all avoid campaigns of calumny. The APC remains the party to beat anytime and any day.”
The former governor, who was once speculated to be eyeing a comeback, was previously believed to be in the same contest pool with figures such as Senator Ajibola Basiru, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, Senators Iyiola Omisore, Mudashiru Husain, and Omooba Dotun Babayemi.
Oyetola expressed confidence in the APC’s growing strength in the state, citing a continuous influx of new members as a testament to the party’s “vibrancy, potency, and formidability.”
He also projected a decisive victory for the APC in the 2026 Osun governorship election, and further assured supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
“With God on our side, we will win the governorship election next year in Osun State and deliver our state with massive votes for the re-election of President Tinubu,” he said.
He hailed the calibre of aspirants under the APC umbrella, describing them as “qualified, competent individuals with outstanding track records,” and touted this as a strong selling point for the party.
On the recent coalition of opposition parties in the state, Oyetola dismissed it as inconsequential, labeling it as “built on political conspiracy, connivance, and vendetta.”
“Whatever is built on conspiracy and vendetta will collapse. We’ve seen it before — from TOP to Omoluabi and now ADC. The coalition is already drifting towards collapse and poses no threat to us in Osun,” he asserted.
Among the aspirants present at the meeting were Senator Babajide Omoworare and Barrister Kunle Adegoke, SAN.
