Bola Oyebamiji, the immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate for the upcoming Osun State governorship election on Saturday. The declaration took place at the primary election venue within the premises of Ebunoluwa Group of Schools in Osogbo, the state capital, marking a smooth culmination of the party’s internal process.
Oyebamiji’s emergence followed a motion moved by two prominent governorship aspirants, Kunle Adegoke (SAN) and Senator Babajide Omoworare. The Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Committee, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, subjected the motion to a voice vote, which garnered overwhelming support from party members present at the venue. Okpebholo then formally declared, “By the power conferred on me, I present to you Bola Oyebamiji, as the governorship candidate of our party.”
The primaries commenced earlier with the arrival of Okpebholo, who had noted that the candidate would emerge by affirmation. He was accompanied by co-chairman and Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, alongside other committee members including Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat representing the Lagos State Governor, and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. This gathering of political heavyweights underscored the significance of the Osun APC’s candidate selection for the 2026 election.
Earlier on Tuesday, 1,660 delegates tasked with electing the APC candidate for the December 13 governorship primary had been selected. Clear indications emerged that the seven APC governorship aspirants had stepped down to back a consensus flagbearer following a late-night meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adding to the momentum, former APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore, speaking on TVC News’ Politics Tonight programme on Wednesday, declared his support for the party’s arrangement to choose a consensus candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Omisore, who was among the seven aspirants disqualified by the APC Screening Committee for alleged violations of party guidelines and electoral provisions, affirmed that he accepted the decision following guidance from President Bola Tinubu. His endorsement highlighted the party’s unified front ahead of the contest.
