I Won't Join 2026 Governorship Race - Oyetola Hints APC Stakeholders

...Charges Aspirants To Shun Campaign Of Calumny, Bitterness, Acrimony

It has now been officially confirmed that the Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, who is the immediate-past governor of the state now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, will not be participating in the 2026 governorship race.

This was disclosed by Alhaji Oyetola himself during the meeting of the stakeholders of the party in the state held at the Ileri-Oluwa Campaign Office, along Gbongan-Osogbo road, Osogbo, Osun State, on Friday.

The ecstatic minister disclosed to the meeting that it was  official that he would not be participating in the governorship race with a prayer that God in His infinite mercy would guide the about eleven APC aspirants who have shown their interest to participate in the governorship election bid.

According to Alhaji Oyetola: "I am no more interested in the 2026 governorship race. I wish all the aspirants well in their aspiration. I am hereby advising everybody to  cooperate with whoever is finally picked and you should not attack one another".

The minister who stated that he was satisfied with the way the governorship aspirants have been conducting their campaign with decorum, discipline and peace  also used the occasion to appeal to them to sustain the tempo in the overall interest of the party.

He reminded them that they should always remember that they are all members of the same political family jostling for only one position of the governorship candidature of the party, advising them that it would be in the best interest of the party for those who do not emerge victorious at the end to rally round the victor and work assiduously and vigorously for the victory of the party during the forthcoming governorship election.

The minister affirmed the readiness of the APC to return to the government in Osun State in the next year governorship election, saying winning the election is non-negotiable. 

He also asserted that the coast  is clear for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring that  the coalition is never a threat to the re-election bid of the President come 2027. 

The elated Minister disclosed to the members and supporters of the party that God has permanently removed the planned political booby traps created by some of the enemies of the party which has made its  state chapter  to always be in the news in the last couple of weeks.

The former Osun State governor applauded the leadership and members of the party for their continuous commitment to the growth and development of the party since 2022, assuring them of his avowed commitment to lead the party to victory in 2026.

He acknowledged the current status of the party most significantly its formidability, vibrancy and potency to unseat the Governor Ademola Adeleke led-PDP government next year, adding that no legitimate efforts would be spared to return the APC to power in 2026.

Oyetola called on the leadership and members of the party to remain steadfast and united in mobilizing massively for the party as the state approaches the gubernatorial election. He said the party has become a pretty bride attracting many saying, "our party's doors are open for genuine individuals."

Speaking on the need for the members of the party to mobilize massively for the Continuous Voter Registration and collection of Permanent Voter's Cards, PVC, Oyetola said the move is the prerequisite to victory. 

In Oyetola's words: "You all can see that the APC remains the party to beat anytime and anyday. As at today, we are receiving people into the party in droves and many are still coming. 

"This development has further attested to our vibrancy, potency and formidability. It has always been my dream to build a virile, potent and formidable party that would return the progressives to government. 

"I thank God that this is manifesting and I can assure you that God on our side, we will win the governorship election next year in Osun State and deliver our state with massive votes for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

"We all know the revenue that  is coming to Osun State at the moment without justification for it. Our state is conveniently receiving huge Federal Government allocations to the tune of over 10 billion naira every month against the meagre 2 billion naira we were receiving while in government.  But it's quite unfortunate there is nothing to show for it by the current government. 

"We have many justifications to send the current government packing and we will return our party to the government next year by God's grace. 

"We have qualified, quality, competent, eligible and people of outstanding track records as aspirants contesting for the governorship election and this is a unique selling proposition to feast on and we will continue to complement the Federal Government's efforts in all fronts", he added.

Five of the governorship aspirants of the party who pledged not to imbibe campaign of calumny, bitterness and acrimony through one of them on the occasion, Senator Jide Omoworare(SBO) are: Omooba Dotun Babayemi(ODB); Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji(AMBO); Senator Mudashiru Hussein and Barrister Adegoke Rasheed Okiki Adekunle(K-RAD).

Some of the chieftains of the party who spoke in turns in the stakeholders' meeting who all preached peace are: the state chairman of the party, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal; the chairman of the Osun APC Elders' Caucus,  Engr Sola Akinwumi, former Health Minister, Prof Isaac Adewole and Honourable Wole Oke who was attending the first stakeholders' meeting of the party since his defection from the Peoples Democratic 

Party(PDP).

The other governorship aspirants who could not make it to the meeting sent their apology messages.

e-SIGNED:

*Mogaji KOLA OLABISI,                          Osun State APC Director of Media and Information.*