Osun 2026: What APC should consider before picking deputy guber candidate, by party leader

As the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensifies consultations on a running mate for its Osun governorship candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), party chieftain Chief Abiodun Adesiyan has called for the position to be zoned to Osun Central Senatorial District, citing its voter strength and electoral competitiveness.

Adesiyan argued that since Oyebamiji hails from Osun West and is a Muslim, the party should consider a Christian running mate to achieve religious and demographic balance on the ticket.

In a statement, the APC leader said political calculations demand that the deputy governorship candidate possess strong grassroots appeal, street credibility, and broad-based mobilisation capacity.

“Across APC structures in Osun Central, there is increasing agreement that the ideal deputy governorship candidate should be a strong Christian to balance the ticket religiously; a politician with grassroots acceptance; someone with cross-party connections, particularly among former PDP blocs; a figure with influence among labour leaders, students, artisans, and informal sector workers; and a candidate whose local government has strong voter registration strength capable of delivering significant votes,” he said.

He noted that voter mobilisation is increasingly tied to figures on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) register, making the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise critical to the final decision.

According to him, Osun State had 1,955,657 registered voters as of June 2022, with Osun Central leading at 652,911 voters, ahead of Osun East with about 603,000 and Osun West with approximately 609,030.

Adesiyan identified Osogbo, Olorunda, Ifelodun, Boripe, and Odo-Otin as local governments in Osun Central with strong voting strength and potential for delivering electoral advantage.

Among possible running mates, he mentioned Hon. Adeoye Adelakun (Osogbo), Hon. Funmi Olasehinde (Ifedayo), and Barr. Kayode Oduoye (Ifelodun), noting Oduoye’s popularity across the Boripe/Ifelodun/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency and within the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

He also listed Hon. Yinka Ajayi (Boripe), Dr. Temitope Ilori (Ila), the daughter of former Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande, and Ms. Tola Odeyemi, the current Postmaster General of Nigeria. Other names suggested include Kayode Adereti and Hon. Nike Omoworare from Ile-Ife.

Adesiyan concluded that pairing Oyebamiji with a strong Christian candidate from Osun Central—capable of mobilising voters, energising grassroots structures, and bridging political and social divides—could be decisive in the APC’s bid to reclaim Osun State in 2026.