Crisis has hit the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the role of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the 2027 campaign of President Bola Tinubu.
The state APC shunned Adeleke and set up its own separate 168-member Presidential and Parliamentary Campaign Council for Tinubu’s re-election and other candidates in the state.
The development comes a few days after Adeleke, who is now in the Accord Party, inaugurated a 344-member Presidential Campaign Council in Osogbo and named himself coordinator for Tinubu’s campaign in the state.
Adeleke’s inauguration sparked controversy as top APC leaders including former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, APC guber candidate, Bola Oyebamiji and state chairman Tajudeen Lawal were absent.
In a statement on Monday, Osun APC chairman Tajudeen Lawal said the new council was formed to bolster efforts to deliver massive votes for Tinubu and all APC National and State Assembly candidates.
According to the statement, Oyebamiji will serve as Director-General of the new council, while Lawal will serve as Deputy Director-General.
The council also includes all three APC senatorial candidates, nine House of Reps candidates, four former deputy governors, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Femi Fani-Kayode and other party chieftains.
Lawal said Adeleke had declared he would only work for Tinubu and not for other APC candidates, a position the party rejected.
“We have, therefore, carefully selected All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders and members in Osun State to actualise our collective desire of ensuring all-round victory for the President as well as our National and State Assembly candidates,” the statement said.