At least seven governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have withdrawn from the race following a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.
The aspirants agreed to adopt Bola Oyebamiji as the party’s consensus candidate ahead of the forthcoming governorship primary, effectively narrowing the field and strengthening the party’s internal alignment.
Notably absent from the meeting was former APC National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, who boycotted the gathering. Omisore had earlier dismissed his disqualification from the primary election screening as “a joke,” insisting he remained a legitimate contender.
The aspirants who stepped down are:
- Former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi
- Dotun Babayemi
- Akin Ogunbiyi
- Senator Babajide Omoworare
- Kunle Adegoke
- Babatunde Haketer Oralusi
- Mulikat Abiola Jimoh
Sources at the meeting said President Tinubu urged party stakeholders to close ranks and rally behind a unified candidate to improve the APC’s chances ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
Further details on the party’s final arrangements for the primary are expected in the coming days.