A former Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, has finally dropped his ambition to contest the 2006 governorship election in the state, investigations by NewsTellers have revealed.
Oyetola, who is the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, was defeated by the incumbent governor of the state, Senator Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, three years ago.
The former governor, who was born on September 29, 1954, was said to have agreed that he would be too old to challenge Adeleke in the 2026 election.
Very reliable sources in Abuja and Osogbo told NewsTellers that Oyetola had begun the search for someone he considers credible to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress to square it up with Adeleke, who is almost sure to be the sole candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
One of the sources said, “Oyetola had been informed that he wouldn’t be a sellable candidate for the APC in Osun. He’s not a popular person in the state and even among the civil servants.
“The party has also been polarised by his actions. Yet, he may have the structure of the party in the state because he installed the majority of the members of the State Working Committee, but the structure won’t deliver the votes for him during the general elections.”
It was gathered that Oyetola had reflected on the above, which was said to have been echoed from the Villa and the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja, and therefore decided to opt out of the race but back a candidate of his choice.
His favourite for the APC ticket is said to be the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji.
Oyebamiji, an experienced banker of about 30 years, served as a two-term Commissioner for Finance during the administrations of former Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Oyetola in the state.
Oyebamiji’s NIWA is under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy that Oyetola supervises.
Already, Oyebamiji, who is from Ikire, a town in the western district of the state, has started mobilising to get the party’s ticket.
Adeleke is also from the west, but his hometown, Ede, is more populated than Ikire.
Campaigning under the banner of ‘Ambo’ (we are coming), which is the same as the campaign slogan of a former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode, Oyebamiji was brought into the government by Aregbesola.
The Ijesa-born ex-governor had wanted him as his successor, but powers above him insisted on Oyetola, who eventually won the troubled election in his first attempt.
Political observers think that Oyebamiji’s candidature may reunite Oyetola and Aregbesola as the NIWA boss served in their governments.
“But Oyebamiji cannot exonerate himself from the administrations of both Aregbesola and Oyetola when civil servants were pauperised with half salary.
“In fact, civil servants in the state hold him responsible for the refusal of Oyetla to pay the accumulated half salaries after Aregbesola left.
“This same Oyebamiji was the commissioner for finance but refused to make budgetary provisions for the payment of this money. Now, he wants to return to continue where they stopped. Let’s wait and see,” a top civil servant said.
It is not clear where the bond between the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and Oyetola was severed as the former served as the director-general of the latter’s campaign for his re-election, which the APC lost.
Sources close to the two men indicated that Oyetola is not favourably disposed to the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Osun State, who also served as commissioner in the Ministry of Regional Integration & Special Duties from August 2010 to November 2014.
Basiru, who is from Osogbo, the state capital, and was once described as ‘in-coming’ by the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, at a function in Edo State, is however said to be using his position to win the confidence of those that matter at the national level of the party, including its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
It is not clear who will have the backing of a former governor of the state, Chief Bisi Akande. While a source said Basiru has Akande’s backing, another claimed that the man popularly referred to as ‘Baba omo keekeke’ (father of small children) is still calculating and consulting with elders in the state, including President Bola Tinubu.
Other aspirants:
One of the aspirants is a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Benedict Alabi, who has officially declared his intention.
Alabi, like Oyebamiji, hails from Ikire town in the Irewole Local Government Area of the state.
A former Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Babajide Omoworare, has also declared his intention.
Omoworare, who hails from Ile-Ife, is believed not to have any chance of picking the party’s ticket.
Iyiola Omisore, born September 15, 1957, who served as deputy governor of Osun State from 1999 to 2003, is also said to be interested in the race. However, he is said to be keeping his strategy under wraps as he no longer commands the followership that could make him the governor of his state.
Dotun Babayemi, the Gbogan-born prince, has also declared his intention to contest.
Babayemi was a member of the PDP in the state before he defected to the APC.
Mudasiru Hussein is another aspirant. He represented the Alliance for Democracy for two terms in the House of Representatives before he was later elected Senator for Osun West in Osun State. He is from Ejigbo.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of APC, Prof. Olasiji Olamiju, has cautioned members of the party vying for political seats against the “do or die” approach, especially during the 2026 governorship poll.
Olamiju, a former Special Adviser to Oyetola on Public Health, said this in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo on Thursday.
He said the need for the spirit of sportsmanship was important to achieve the party’s desired victory in the 2026 governorship election.
Olamiju stated, “The large number of aspirants seeking the APC ticket is a testament to the party’s strength and the people’s desire for leadership in Osun.
“I urge aspirants to prioritise party unity and support whoever emerges as the flag bearer with the ultimate goal to deliver Osun to President Tinubu in the 2027 Presidential election.
“When we maintain party unity and focus on the bigger picture, I believe the APC can emerge victorious and fulfil its mandate in the 2026 and 2027 elections.
“Also, what should be paramount to every dedicated member of the party now is how the party wins the coming elections in the state.”
