The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the national and state levels have been asked to zone the gubernatorial ticket of the party for the 2026 election in Osun State to Osun West Senatorial District.
The call is coming amid agitations within the APC in the state for the next gubernatorial candidate to emerge from the zone.
The call was made by an Osun APC group from the Osun West Senatorial District, the Osun West Solidarity Front, OWSF, at a press conference on Monday.
In his remarks on behalf of the group, Taiwo Adejumo, financial secretary of the APC in Egbedore local government, who acknowledged that the former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has the Right of First Refusal, urged the party leadership to cede the ticket to the zone, should he decide not to run again.
He said, “The minister has the Right of First Refusal. Our advocacy is conditional on his decision for 2026.
“We join other patriots to advocate for fairness by urging the APC leadership to zone the 2026 governorship ticket to Osun West Senatorial District, should His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola decide not to run.
Highlighting Osun West’s lack of representation, Adejumo said, “Since the return to democracy in 1999, the progressive party has governed Osun State for 16 years, but none of those years were led by someone from Osun West, despite it being the largest senatorial district by population.”
Citing population data from the 2006 census, Adejumo noted that Iwo local government is the most populous in Osun State with 191,348 people.
“Despite our consistent support for the APC, our district has been overlooked for governorship nominations.”
The group also presented election results to substantiate their claim of unwavering support for the APC.
“In the 2022 governorship election, Osun West contributed significantly to APC’s votes, even defeating the PDP candidate — now the state governor – in six out of 10 local government areas.
“In the 2022 elections, for instance, APC polled 17,421 votes in Iwo LGA as against PDP’s 16,914 votes. In Irewole, APC clinched 18,189 while PDP clinched 14,216. In Olaoluwa, APC also got 9,123 votes as against PDP’S 7,205 votes just as it got in Ayedaade 14,527 votes as against PDP’s 13,380. APC also defeated PDP in Isokan and Ayedire local government areas.
“Of the 343,945 votes received by President Bola Tinubu in Osun State during the 2023 presidential election, 102,826 came from Osun West.
“We appeal to APC leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, Baba Bisi Akande, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje (APC National Chairman) and Engr Sola Akinwunmi ( Chairman Osun APC Elders’ Council), to consider the district’s appeal.
“Rewarding Osun West with the governorship ticket will not only reflect fairness but will also strengthen the party’s progressive ideals in the state.”
He argued that it is time for Osun State to adopt the principle of zoning for equitable governance.
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