Four Osun APC executives reject Oyebamiji-led list, insist Adeleke heads presidential campaign

By Shina Abubakar Osogbo Members of the State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress APC in Osun State have rejected the party’s parallel presidential election campaign list released by the party, saying it does not reflect established party guidelines. The Osun APC in statement signed by the Party Chairman on Monday had released a parallel presidential campaign committee list which has the Governorship candidate as its Director-General after the Presidential Campaign Council Coordinator, Governor Ademola Adeleke, had inaugurated a campaign committee in the state.

However, four members of the State Executive Committee, Wole Adunola, State Publicity Secretary; Adesola Ayangbile, Welfare Officer; and Rasheed Adeniji, Asst. Organising Secretary, and Abiola Ololade, Ex-Officio, in a joint statement, rejected the list on the ground that it does not reflect due process and lacked inclusiveness. “Following a careful review, we express our strong dissatisfaction with the composition of the list, which, in our view, does not adequately reflect established party guidelines, due process and the principle of inclusiveness required in constituting such an important campaign structure.

We therefore reject the list in its present form. “Of particular concern is the omission of several members of the State Working Committee who, according to the applicable guidelines, are expected to be statutory members of the council. The exclusion of these recognised party officials raises serious concerns about consultation, due process, and respect for the party’s established leadership structure,” they claimed.

They called to disclose that the list negates an earlier presidential directive which named Governor Ademola Adeleke as the coordinator of the State Presidential Campaign Council, which led to the inauguration of a broad-based campaign committee to drive the president’s campaign across the state. “Furthermore, the composition of the list appears inconsistent with the earlier presidential directive reportedly naming Governor Ademola Adeleke as the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council in Osun State.

Following that directive, the governor promptly inaugurated a broad-based campaign team to drive the presidential campaign across the state. “It is, therefore, unclear why a different structure has now emerged without adequate clarification or alignment with the existing arrangement,” the statement reads. The aggrieved state executive committee members also demand clarification on the responsibility of the campaign committee, saying that it is established to campaign for National Assembly candidates of the party, adding that such responsibility must not be lumped with that of the Presidential Campaign committee.

They, therefore, called on the national leadership of the party, especially the National Secretary, to intervene in the matter with a view to ensuring that the new parallel list does not lead to division and jeopardise the President’s re-election bid in the State. “If the newly released list is intended to serve as a Parliamentary Campaign Council rather than the Presidential Campaign Council, its composition would be more understandable.

This distinction must be clearly established to avoid confusion, duplication of responsibilities, and unnecessary friction within the party’s campaign structure. “We consequently call for an immediate review of the published list, with appropriate consultations involving relevant stakeholders, including the National Secretary of our party, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, and the State Director-General, to ensure proper alignment and effective coordination,” the statement added.