President Bola Tinubu called 76 leaders of the All Progressives Congress from Osun State to Aso Rock Villa in Abuja for a late-night meeting aimed at addressing increasing tensions within the party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
This gathering was initiated following a report by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, which revealed discontent among several APC leaders in Osun who felt marginalized from party activities and excluded from the ongoing campaign.
Tinubu called for unity among the leaders to guarantee that Bola Oyebamiji, the party’s candidate, secures victory in the election. Leaders traveled from Ibadan on chartered flights to Abuja, with additional attendees arriving from Lagos.
Among those present were former House of Representatives Speaker Olubunmi Etteh and past state House of Assembly speakers Mojeed Alabi, Adejare Bello, and Wale Afolabi. Ajibola Basiru, APC’s National Secretary, was responsible for organizing and coordinating this meeting of leaders.
READ ALSO: Osun Election: Accord Accuses APC of Harbouring Hackers, Party Denies Claim
An attendee from the Boluwaduro Local Government Area confirmed that Ribadu’s report prompted Tinubu to organize the gathering. The insider disclosed that numerous APC leaders were unhappy about being excluded from party matters, which they viewed as a potential threat to the party’s success in future elections.
During the meeting, participants openly voiced their grievances, especially regarding federal appointments that predominantly favored members of the IleriOluwa camp under Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola.
They conveyed these concerns to Tinubu, who assured them he understood and encouraged unity to avoid further setbacks for the party.
Tinubu recognized previous electoral shortcomings and expressed disappointment in certain leaders. Despite these setbacks, he appointed Oyetola as a minister and urged the leaders to work together to achieve victory in the upcoming election.
The meeting was considered productive, as participants valued Tinubu’s approach to their concerns. However, there were still some lingering doubts about the inclusivity of governance should the party succeed.
Tinubu reassured them that opportunities for broader inclusion in federal appointments would be available and urged unity to secure success in Osun.
