Four executives of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State have rejected the state's newly released presidential campaign council list and called for it to be reviewed immediately. The position was set out in a statement obtained in Osogbo, the state capital, on Tuesday, according to Punch Newspapers.
The statement was signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Wole Adunola; the Welfare Officer, Adesola Ayangbile; the Assistant Organising Secretary, Rasheed Adeniji; and the Osun APC Ex-Officio, Abiola Ololade.
Why it matters
The dispute touches the internal organisation of the ruling party's campaign in one state ahead of the 2027 general elections. The signatories argue that the way the council was put together ignored party rules and sidelined recognised officials, and they want the national leadership to step in. How the party handles the complaint could shape how smoothly its state campaign runs.
What the four officials are saying
The four executives said they were unhappy with how the list was drawn up, arguing that it does not reflect party guidelines, due process or the inclusiveness they say such a campaign body requires. On that basis, they rejected the list as it stands.
They raised two main objections. First, they said several members of the State Working Committee were left out, even though the applicable rules make them statutory members of the council. Second, they said the list conflicts with an earlier presidential directive that reportedly named the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, as the council's Director-General in Osun.
According to the statement, the governor acted on that directive by quickly setting up a broad campaign team to drive the presidential campaign across the state. The executives said it is unclear why a different structure has since appeared without explanation or any effort to align it with the existing arrangement.
They also floated a possible explanation. If the new list was meant to be a Parliamentary Campaign Council rather than the Presidential Campaign Council, they said, its makeup would make more sense. Even so, they argued that the difference between the two must be made clear to prevent confusion, overlapping duties and friction inside the campaign.
The executives stressed that the State Executive Committee is part of the party's organisational structure and cannot be left out when a statewide campaign council is formed. Leaving out recognised party officials, they added, raises serious questions about consultation, due process and respect for the party's leadership hierarchy.
Calls for consultation with Basiru and the state director-general
The four officials asked for the published list to be reviewed without delay, with proper consultation involving relevant stakeholders. They named the National Secretary of the party, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, and the State Director-General as parties who should be brought into that process to ensure the structure is properly aligned and coordinated.
They also urged party leaders at state and national level to deal with their concerns promptly and make the necessary corrections.
In their statement, the executives said their position is that the campaign council should respect party structures, recognise legitimate leadership, include critical stakeholders and bring members together for electoral victory. They said the task ahead requires unity, discipline, strategic coordination and shared responsibility, and that no legitimate stakeholder should be left out.
They said they remain committed to the success of the party's presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and to the interests of the APC. Even so, they insisted that the current composition of the list must be reviewed so that it reflects the inclusiveness and institutional respect they say a united campaign needs.
The council the party unveiled
Punch Newspapers had earlier reported that the Osun State chapter of the APC unveiled a 168-member presidential and parliamentary campaign council. The body is to work for President Bola Tinubu's re-election and canvass votes for other party candidates in the 2027 general elections.
A statement signed by the Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, said the council was set up to strengthen the party's chances at the polls. It named Bola Oyebamiji, the party's candidate in the August 8 governorship election, as Director-General, with Lawal serving as Deputy Director-General among other members.
Punch Newspapers also reported separately that Oyebamiji leads the Osun APC parallel presidential campaign council.
The four executives who signed Tuesday's statement did not say what steps they would take if their demand is not met. What happens next depends on whether the state and national leadership agree to reopen the list and bring the excluded officials into the process.
