Four Osun APC executives reject Oyebamiji-led list, insist Adeleke heads presidential campaign
By Shina Abubakar Osogbo
Members of the State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have expressed their dissatisfaction with a parallel presidential campaign list released by the party, stating that it does not adhere to established guidelines.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Osun APC, led by its chairman, announced the parallel campaign committee list, which designated the party’s gubernatorial candidate as the Director-General. This announcement follows the earlier inauguration of a campaign committee by Governor Ademola Adeleke, who serves as the Coordinator of the State Presidential Campaign Council.
However, four members of the State Executive Committee—Wole Adunola, State Publicity Secretary; Adesola Ayangbile, Welfare Officer; Rasheed Adeniji, Assistant Organising Secretary; and Abiola Ololade, Ex-Officio—joined together to reject the list. They argued that the list lacked inclusivity and did not follow due process.
“Following a careful review, we express our strong dissatisfaction with the composition of the list, which does not adequately reflect established party guidelines and the principle of inclusiveness required in constituting such an important campaign structure. Therefore, we reject the list in its present form,” they said in a joint statement.
The committee members highlighted their concern over the exclusion of several State Working Committee members, who, according to the applicable guidelines, should be part of the council. They emphasized that this omission raises significant concerns about consultation and respect for the party’s leadership structure.
Additionally, they noted that the new list contradicts an earlier presidential directive appointing Governor Adeleke as the coordinator of the State Presidential Campaign Council. This directive was part of the establishment of a broader campaign committee to support the president’s campaign in Osun State.
The members stated, “It is unclear why a different structure has now emerged without proper clarification or alignment with existing arrangements.”
They also sought clarification regarding the responsibilities of the campaign committee, emphasizing that it should focus exclusively on National Assembly candidates instead of merging its responsibilities with those of the Presidential Campaign Committee.
The executive committee members called on the national leadership of the party, particularly the National Secretary, to intervene to prevent further division and protect the President’s re-election efforts in the state. They suggested that if the newly released list aims to function as a Parliamentary Campaign Council, it should be explicitly distinguished from the Presidential Campaign Council to avoid confusion and overlap in responsibilities.
“We consequently call for an immediate review of the published list with proper consultations involving all relevant stakeholders, including the National Secretary of our party, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, and the State Director-General, to ensure proper alignment and effective coordination,” they concluded.
