The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has renamed its parallel presidential campaign structure the Osun State All Progressives Congress Parliamentary Campaign Council. This decision was made following protests from some state executives over its initial composition. The party also expanded the council's membership from 168 to 183 to accommodate all members of the State Executive Committee.
The controversy began after the APC Presidential Campaign Council appointed Governor Ademola Adeleke, a member of the Accord Party, as the state coordinator of Tinubu's campaign during the inauguration of the national council in Abuja on October 14, 2026. Adeleke subsequently inaugurated a separate 344-member campaign council comprising members of different political parties.
In a counter-move, the Osun APC on Monday unveiled its own 168-member structure, appointing Bola Oyebamiji as Director-General and state chairman Tajudeen Lawal as Deputy Director-General. The initial list triggered protests from four state executive members: Publicity Secretary Wole Adunola, Welfare Officer Adesola Ayangbile, Assistant Organising Secretary Rasheed Adeniji, and Ex-Officio member Abiola Ololade.
The aggrieved officials expressed strong dissatisfaction with the composition of the list, citing the omission of several members of the State Working Committee who were expected to be statutory members of the council. They questioned why a separate structure emerged despite the earlier presidential directive naming Adeleke as state coordinator.
In the renamed and expanded parliamentary campaign council, Oyebamiji retained the post of Director-General, while his running mate Benjamin Adereti and Kehinde Olamolu serve as Assistant Directors-General 1 and 2 respectively. The three APC senatorial candidates and the nine House of Representatives candidates were also listed as members.
Other prominent inclusions in the revised structure are former governor Adebisi Akande, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, and APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru. Announcing the revised structure, Lawal said the expansion was intended to strengthen the party's mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party explained that the parliamentary council would focus on mobilising support for APC candidates contesting National and State Assembly seats while working with the existing Presidential Campaign Council to secure victory for President Tinubu and other party candidates. Meanwhile, Welfare Officer Adesola Ayangbile distanced herself from the protest statement, claiming she was neither consulted nor involved in its preparation.
Key points
- The Osun APC has renamed its parallel presidential campaign structure the Osun State All Progressives Congress Parliamentary Campaign Council.
- The party expanded the council's membership from 168 to 183 to accommodate all members of the State Executive Committee.
- The parliamentary council will focus on mobilising support for APC candidates contesting National and State Assembly seats.
