Oyetola Absent as Adeleke Inaugurates Tinubu Campaign Council in Osun

Governor Ademola Adeleke on Thursday inaugurated a 344-member campaign council in Osun State to drive President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

While the event drew several prominent APC leaders, including former Governor Bisi Akande, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, and Senator Iyiola Omisore, notable absentees included Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and state party chairman Tajudeen Lawal.

Akande, addressing the gathering, urged voters across the South-West to rally behind Tinubu, stressing that the President deserved a second term.

“Today, we have one of our sons in Yorubaland as President of Nigeria, and he is entitled to two terms in office. We are all praying that he gets his second term,” he said.

Basiru called for unity among stakeholders, noting Tinubu’s decision to appoint Adeleke as Osun campaign coordinator.

“Irrespective of our feelings, ambitions and scheming, we must abide by the vision of President Bola Tinubu and support Governor Adeleke to deliver a massive victory,” he said.

Adeleke described the council as a “rainbow coalition” of APC, PDP, and Accord structures, tasked with mobilising more than 1.5 million votes for Tinubu.

He clarified that while the coalition was united for the presidential election, parties remained free to pursue their own candidates in legislative contests.

Vice Chairman Adeoye Adelakun, representing the APC chairman, explained that the absentees might not have been aware of the event but emphasised the importance of collaboration.

“As APC alone, we have not won an election in the last three cycles. If we must give President Tinubu the required number of votes in Osun, we have to collaborate,” he said.

The inauguration comes amid earlier complaints from the Osun APC that it was not properly briefed before the announcement of the campaign council.