The All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally adopted the immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, as its candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Oyebamiji emerged the party’s consensus candidate on Saturday at the party’s governorship primary election held within the premises of Ebunoluwa Group of Schools, Osogbo, following a unanimous affirmation by party delegates and stakeholders.
Two other aspirants, Kunle Adegoke (SAN) and Senator Babajide Omoworare, had jointly moved a motion for Oyebamiji’s adoption as the party’s flagbearer. The motion was subsequently subjected to a voice vote by the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Committee and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, which received overwhelming approval from members present at the venue.
Declaring the outcome, Okpebholo said, “By the power conferred on me, I present to you Bola Oyebamiji as the governorship candidate of our party.”
Okpebholo had informed the gathering that the APC would elect its candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election through affirmation, signalling the party’s preference for consensus over a competitive primary.
The primary election witnessed the presence of several high-profile party leaders, including the co-chairman of the primary committee and Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who represented the Lagos State Governor; and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Strong indications of a consensus arrangement had surfaced after all seven APC aspirants agreed to step down in favour of a single candidate, following a late-night meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The adoption of Oyebamiji as consensus candidate is widely seen as a strategic move by the APC to project unity and strengthen its chances ahead of the 2026 governorship contest in Osun State.
