Osogbo: Bola Oyebamiji, the immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has been adopted as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Osun governorship election scheduled for August 8, 2026.
Oyebamiji was announced as the APC candidate after seven other aspirants adopted him as a consensus candidate during the party’s primary on Saturday in Osogbo.
One of the aspirants, Mr Kunle Rasheed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), moved a motion to adopt Oyebamiji as a consensus candidate, which was seconded by another aspirant, Sen. Babajide Omoworare.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee for the Congress, Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo, thereafter put the ratification of Oyebamiji to a voice vote, which the 1,660 delegates from the 30 local government areas in the state answered in the affirmative.
“By the power vested in me, I declare Oyebamiji as the APC candidate for the Aug. 8, 2026, governorship election in Osun,” he said.
Okpebholo, in his remarks, thanked the other aspirants for stepping down and commended them for sacrificing their personal ambitions for the state’s interest.
He said the APC’s victory in 2026 could only be achieved through unity and urged other aspirants to work with Oyebamiji to ensure the party’s victory in the election.
Okpebholo, who noted that he had never lost any election, said that as the chairman of the electoral committee, APC would win in the state.
He urged the electorate to support a candidate who would bring development to the state, saying, “We are tired of dancing”.
In his acceptance speech, Oyebamiji thanked all the other aspirants for foregoing their ambitions and for supporting him.
He attributed his emergence to the support of APC leaders and elders at both the state and national levels.
Oyebamiji thanked President Bola Tinubu for being a great party leader for the unity and progress of the APC.
He said he is making himself available to serve and improve the welfare of the people of the state, affirming that, come 2026, the APC would take control of the state government.
The primary election was witnessed by Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, Gov. Suleiman Abdullahi of Nasarawa, and former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello.
Others include the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola; the APC National Secretary, Surajudeen Basiru; party chieftains; and officials of the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).