Osun 2026: Oyinlola-Led PDP Faction Backs APC’s Oyebamiji Six Days to Poll
Barely six days to the Osun State governorship election, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), for the August 15 election.
The endorsement was announced on Sunday at the WOCDIF Event Centre in Osogbo during a gathering of prominent members and leaders of the Oyinlola-led PDP faction.
Those present at the event included a former South-West Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Tajudeen Oladipupo; a former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Akinade Akinbade; and other prominent leaders and stakeholders of the party.
Speaking at the event, Oyinlola said the decision to support Oyebamiji was driven by what he described as the need to provide a new political direction for Osun State and secure a better future for its people.
Oyinlola said the leaders had played significant roles in mobilising support for the emergence of the present PDP administration, noting that they backed the political project because they believed it represented the aspirations and interests of the people of the state.
According to him, the relationship between some of the stakeholders and the administration subsequently deteriorated, which he attributed largely to what he described as a lack of inclusiveness in governance.
“We were among the major stakeholders who worked tirelessly towards the emergence of the present administration under the platform of the PDP. We believed in that project. We supported it. We mobilised our people for it,” Oyinlola said.
He argued that sustainable governance required a government to carry the people and relevant political stakeholders along, stressing that partisan loyalty should not be allowed to override the broader interests of the state.
Oyinlola also clarified that the endorsement of the APC candidate should not be interpreted as the faction’s defection from the PDP, insisting that he and the other leaders remained members of the party.
“Let me repeat that our decision today should not be interpreted as an abandonment of the PDP. We remain PDP members. We are not here to announce our defection from the PDP,” he said.
He described the decision to support Oyebamiji as one borne out of “necessity, conviction and a sincere desire for the progress of the state”, adding that concerns about the future of the younger generation also influenced their position.
Oyinlola, however, charged Oyebamiji to make the people the centrepiece of his administration if elected, urging him to build an inclusive government capable of accommodating diverse political, social and regional interests across Osun.
Responding, Oyebamiji thanked Oyinlola and other PDP leaders for their support, describing the endorsement as significant to his campaign and political bid.
He promised to run an inclusive and people-oriented administration if elected, saying the views, aspirations and interests of the people would form the foundation of his government.
Oyebamiji also criticised the performance of the incumbent administration, alleging that what he described as nepotism had undermined development and equitable governance in the state.
The APC candidate further dismissed allegations that his party was planning to rig the August 15 election, describing claims allegedly being circulated by the Accord Party and its candidate as unfounded.
Oyebamiji said he had visited all the local government areas in the state and engaged opinion leaders, community leaders and other stakeholders, describing the reception he received across the state as “awesome”.
He expressed optimism that the goodwill generated during his campaign would translate into votes for the APC at the polls.
Also speaking, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, urged residents of Osun State to turn out in large numbers and vote for Oyebamiji.
Oyetola criticised the performance of the administration led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, alleging that the state had not achieved the level of development and economic progress expected under the present government.
He urged the electorate to vote for the APC candidate, arguing that his election would provide an opportunity for a change of government and what he described as a fresh direction for the state.
The endorsement by the Oyinlola-led PDP faction adds another political dimension to the 2026 Osun governorship contest, particularly as the major parties intensify their mobilisation efforts ahead of the August 15 poll.
