NEWS
JUST IN: President Bola Tinubu Summons 76 Osun APC Leaders to Villa Over Rift Ahead of August 15 Governorship Poll
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has summoned 76 leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid growing concerns over internal disagreements within the party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The high-level meeting, which reportedly took place late at night, was convened following an intelligence report submitted to the President by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, warning of deepening dissatisfaction among some influential APC leaders in the state.
According to sources familiar with the development, the intelligence report indicated that a number of prominent party members felt excluded from the affairs of the APC, particularly in the coordination of the ongoing governorship campaign.
The concerns reportedly raised alarm within the presidency, with fears that continued divisions could undermine the party’s chances of defeating its major rivals in the forthcoming election.
A former local government chairman who attended the meeting said the NSA’s report was instrumental in bringing the matter directly to the President’s attention.
“The meeting was at the instance of an intelligence report from the NSA.
“I am aware that he told Tinubu that many APC leaders in Osun were not happy and had not been carried along in the party’s affairs, including the ongoing campaign,” the source said.
Following the report, Tinubu was said to have contacted the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and directed him to coordinate the affected party leaders for a meeting at the Presidential Villa.
The gathering reportedly brought together several prominent APC figures from across Osun State, with some travelling from Ibadan on chartered flights while others reportedly departed from Lagos.
Among those said to have attended were former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Olubunmi Ete; former speakers of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mojeed Alabi, Adejare Bello and Wale Afolabi; as well as Shuaib Oyedokun, Poju Odusola and Bode Olanipekun.
A former lawmaker who participated in the meeting described it as a candid engagement during which party leaders had the opportunity to speak directly to the President about their concerns.
“We were around 76 in number at the meeting. It was an opportunity for the President to know the truth about what is happening in Osun State,” the source said.
The meeting reportedly centred largely on complaints about the distribution of political appointments, party administration and the manner in which the governorship campaign was being conducted.
One of the major grievances raised by the leaders was the allegation that several federal appointments allocated to Osun State had largely gone to individuals believed to be allies of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
“We told the President the truth, that the majority of us, the APC leaders, don’t know how the party is being run,” the source added.
Against the backdrop of the complaints, Tinubu reportedly appealed to the aggrieved leaders to put their differences aside and unite behind the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The President was said to have warned that allowing internal disagreements to persist could ultimately damage the party’s collective interest at the polls.
He reportedly reminded the leaders that an electoral defeat would not affect one faction alone but would have consequences for the APC as a whole.
The President was also said to have expressed disappointment over the party’s performance in Osun during the 2022 governorship election and the 2023 general elections, with the latest meeting viewed as an effort to prevent a repeat of those setbacks.
Quoting Tinubu, one of the sources said the President urged the party leaders to set aside their grievances and “work for the victory of the party.”
The President reportedly assured the aggrieved members that there were opportunities for members of the party at both the federal and state levels, while stressing the need for unity ahead of the election.
Beyond complaints about the ongoing campaign, another major issue reportedly raised during the meeting was whether an APC administration in Osun would be sufficiently inclusive if Oyebamiji wins the August 15 election.
The concerns reflected broader apprehension among some party leaders that their grievances could persist even after the election if a mechanism for reconciliation was not established.
Tinubu was said to have responded by assuring the leaders that there would be opportunities for party members at different levels of government, while encouraging them to rally around the APC candidate.
The meeting therefore appeared to serve both as a platform for the party leaders to air their grievances and as an intervention by the presidency to prevent internal divisions from weakening the APC’s electoral prospects.
Efforts to obtain a direct response from Basiru were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him reportedly went unanswered.
However, the Osun APC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Olabisi, confirmed that the meeting took place, although he declined to provide further details.
“Yes, I am aware. That is all I can say,” he said.
Other APC sources also confirmed that Basiru played a role in coordinating the meeting as the party seeks to reconcile its members and strengthen its structure ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
With the election fast approaching, the presidential intervention underscores the importance attached to resolving the internal disagreements within the Osun APC and ensuring that the party enters the contest with a united political structure.