Oyetola, Oyebamiji, Other APC Leaders Absent as Adeleke Inaugurates Tinubu’s 344-Member Campaign Council in Osun

The absence of former Osun State Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, alongside several prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, has drawn attention to the inauguration of the 344-member campaign council established to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

The council was inaugurated on Thursday, 22 October 2026, by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who has been appointed to coordinate Tinubu’s presidential campaign in the state despite belonging to the Accord Party.

The event in Osogbo brought together prominent political figures from the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Accord Party. However, the absence of several influential APC stakeholders raised fresh questions about consultation, internal party relations and the ability of the broad-based political alliance to achieve its electoral objectives.

Oyetola, Oyebamiji and Other Party Leaders Missing

Among the prominent political figures absent from the inauguration were Oyetola, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, and Bola Oyebamiji, the APC’s candidate in the 2026 Osun governorship election.

Other notable absentees included APC State Chairman Tajudeen Lawal, former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly Timothy Owoeye, Executive Director of Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority, Remi Omowaiye, and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Adebayo Adeleke.

Their absence came amid concerns within the Osun APC over the process through which the campaign council was announced and constituted.

Before the inauguration, the state party leadership had complained that it was not adequately consulted before the 344-member list was made public. The disagreement raised concerns about whether the campaign structure would receive the full cooperation of party stakeholders whose political influence could prove important in the 2027 presidential election.

However, the absence of the leaders does not, by itself, establish that they oppose Tinubu’s re-election. No definitive explanation for each individual’s absence was established at the event.

Bisi Akande Leads APC Chieftains to the Inauguration

Despite the absence of several influential figures, former Osun State Governor and APC chieftain Chief Bisi Akande attended the inauguration alongside other prominent party leaders.

Those present included APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, former National Secretary of the party Senator Iyiola Omisore, former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Sooko Lekan Adewoyin, Senator Babajide Omoworare and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.

Other attendees included Osun Central Senatorial Leader of the APC Adeoye Adelakun, former members of the House of Representatives Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo, former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly Wale Afolabi, and former NABTEB Registrar Professor Olu Aina.

The event also attracted former PDP National Secretary Professor Wale Oladipo, Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi and Osun Accord Party Chairman Victor Akande.

The attendance of political figures from different parties reflected the cross-party character of the campaign arrangement, which seeks to bring together political structures that would ordinarily compete against one another in state and legislative elections.

Akande Calls for Tinubu’s Re-election

Addressing participants, Akande urged eligible voters across the South-West to support Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office.

He argued that having a Yoruba president offered a reason for regional political leaders to work towards securing another term for the incumbent.

Akande also referred to the target of mobilising two million votes for Tinubu in Osun State during the presidential election scheduled for 16 January 2027.

The former governor expressed optimism about the campaign’s prospects and called for collective efforts to secure victory.

His remarks reinforced the central message of the inauguration: that political differences among the participating groups should not prevent them from cooperating on the presidential contest.

Nevertheless, achieving the proposed vote target would depend on effective grassroots mobilisation, voter participation, the campaign’s organisation and the willingness of supporters across the participating political parties to back the same presidential candidate.

Basiru Defends Adeleke’s Appointment

Speaking at the event, Basiru urged political stakeholders to set aside personal ambitions and disagreements in support of Tinubu’s re-election.

He explained that Adeleke’s appointment as the Osun coordinator reflected the President’s decision and urged APC members to work with the governor, irrespective of their individual political interests.

Basiru also stressed the importance of cooperation among political leaders in the state, arguing that the President’s re-election should take precedence over personal grievances.

His presence was particularly significant because of his position as the APC’s National Secretary and his standing within the party’s national leadership.

The remarks suggested that some influential APC figures were prepared to support the campaign arrangement despite concerns over the process that led to its establishment.

However, the extent to which the message of unity will translate into cooperation across all levels of the party remains to be seen.

Adeleke Explains the Coalition’s Mission

In his address, Adeleke described the campaign council as a broad coalition involving the political structures of the Accord Party, APC and PDP.

He said the alliance was focused on securing victory for Tinubu in the presidential election, adding that the participating groups should work together despite their different political backgrounds.

The governor also made an important distinction between the presidential campaign and other electoral contests.

According to Adeleke, the agreement among the coalition partners was limited to the presidential election. Participating parties would remain free to support their respective candidates in senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly elections.

The clarification could prove important as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections, when alliances at the presidential level may not necessarily extend to legislative contests.

Adeleke’s position indicates an attempt to manage the competing interests of the coalition partners without requiring them to abandon their separate political ambitions.

The governor further disclosed that discussions were at an advanced stage regarding the resolution of the local government crisis in Osun State, expressing hope that the state would receive positive news on the matter.

Why Oyetola’s Absence Matters

Oyetola’s absence is politically significant because of his former position as Osun governor, his continuing influence within the APC and his role in the Federal Government as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

The decision to place Adeleke, a governor elected on the Accord Party platform, at the head of Tinubu’s campaign in Osun represents an unusual cross-party arrangement.

It also creates a delicate political situation in a state where the APC and Adeleke’s political camp have been major rivals.

For the arrangement to succeed, the campaign leadership will need to reconcile the authority of the state coordinator with the interests of established APC leaders and grassroots structures.

The absence of Oyetola and other prominent stakeholders does not necessarily mean that the coalition will fail. However, it highlights the importance of consultation, trust and clearly defined responsibilities in a campaign involving politicians with different allegiances.

Whether the missing leaders will participate more actively in subsequent campaign activities remains an important question as the 2027 election approaches.

APC Vice Chairman Offers Explanation

Speaking on behalf of the Osun APC chairman, Adelakun said the leaders who attended the inauguration were present because they were available and that feedback would be communicated to those who were absent.

He expressed confidence that the absent leaders were not opposed to Tinubu’s re-election.

Adelakun also defended the decision to collaborate across party lines, arguing that the APC had struggled to win elections in the state over the preceding three election cycles.

According to him, cooperation with other political groups was necessary if Osun was to deliver the expected votes for the President.

His comments reflected the strategic calculation behind the campaign arrangement: that broad political cooperation could improve Tinubu’s chances in a state where the APC has faced electoral challenges.

However, the effectiveness of such an arrangement will depend on whether the participating parties can mobilise their supporters and manage internal disagreements.

Can the Alliance Deliver Two Million Votes?

The proposed target of two million votes places considerable pressure on the campaign council to demonstrate that its broad membership can translate into measurable electoral support.

A 344-member council provides a large network of political contacts and potential campaign organisers. Yet the number of people appointed to a campaign structure does not automatically determine its electoral strength.

The council will need to develop effective grassroots mobilisation strategies, coordinate its local government and ward-level operations, communicate its message to voters and maintain cooperation among the participating parties.

It will also have to address concerns among APC members who may feel sidelined by Adeleke’s appointment or dissatisfied with the manner in which the council was formed.

For the Accord Party and PDP participants, the challenge will be to support Tinubu at the presidential level while retaining their identities and competing effectively in other elections.

The success of the alliance will ultimately be measured by its ability to mobilise voters and secure the result it has promised.

The inauguration of Tinubu’s 344-member campaign council by Adeleke has placed Osun State at the centre of an unusual political alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

While prominent APC figures, including Bisi Akande and Ajibola Basiru, attended the event, the absence of Oyetola, Bola Oyebamiji, Tajudeen Lawal and other influential stakeholders has highlighted the unresolved questions surrounding consultation and party unity.

Adeleke has presented the coalition as a platform for cooperation on the presidential election, while allowing participating parties to pursue their own candidates in legislative contests.

The immediate challenge is to turn that understanding into an effective campaign organisation capable of securing the votes promised to Tinubu.

As preparations for the 2027 election continue, the degree of cooperation between Adeleke’s campaign leadership and the wider Osun APC establishment could become a decisive factor in determining whether the coalition achieves its ambitious electoral target.