The race for the Osun 2026 APC governorship ticket has taken a new direction as seven aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have withdrawn from the primary.
Their decision followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, where party unity and the need for a single front ahead of the election were the major focus.
At the end of the engagement, the aspirants agreed to support Bola Oyebamiji as the consensus candidate for the forthcoming primary.
The move is designed to reduce internal tension and streamline the party’s preparations ahead of the 2026 governorship polls.
The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa, was called at the instance of President Tinubu.
However, one of the key aspirants, Iyiola Omisore, was absent.
His boycott did not go unnoticed, especially after his recent reaction to his disqualification from the primary, which he described as “a joke.” His absence has sparked talks about unresolved grievances within the party.
Those who stepped down include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke, Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, and Mulikat Abiola Jimoh.
Party insiders say the decision was reached after appeals from senior stakeholders who emphasised the need to avoid a divided primary.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.