The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and at least 10 governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have stormed Osogbo, the Osun State capital, ahead of the party’s mega campaign rally scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2026.
The high-profile gathering is part of the APC’s final mobilisation for its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the Saturday, August 15, governorship election.
Akpabio was joined by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo; Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, among other party leaders and governors.
The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and other senior party chieftains also converged on Osogbo for the final campaign rally.
Punch reported on Wednesday, August 12, that Akpabio, Uzodimma, Okpebholo, Ododo, Aiyedatiwa and other APC leaders had already arrived in Osogbo ahead of the mega rally scheduled for Thursday.
The rally is coming on the final day of the official campaign period, with the Independent National Electoral Commission having fixed August 13 as the deadline for campaigns ahead of the August 15 poll.
Former Osun State Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who is also a prominent APC chieftain, welcomed the party leaders to the state.
In a post on his official X account, Oyetola said: “As members and supporters of the APC family converge in Osogbo, we look forward to a peaceful, vibrant and successful campaign event.”
The presence of the APC’s national leadership and several serving governors is expected to give the party’s campaign a major boost as it seeks to unseat the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now Accord Party administration led by Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The mega rally is expected to attract party members, supporters, campaign coordinators and other stakeholders from the state’s 30 local government areas as the APC makes its final push for votes for Oyebamiji.
Meanwhile, the arrival of the APC heavyweights has attracted reactions from Afrobeats singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who has been vocal about the Osun governorship election.
Reacting to Oyetola’s post welcoming the APC leaders, Davido mocked the party’s mobilisation, saying: “If you like gather Jesus 12 disciples o ma LULE for the 3rd time!!!!!”
The singer’s comment was interpreted as a prediction that the APC would again lose the election despite the presence of its national leaders and governors.
The August 15 election is expected to be a closely contested race, with the APC’s Oyebamiji challenging incumbent Governor Adeleke of the PDP and other candidates for control of the state.
The APC mega rally is therefore seen as the party’s final opportunity to consolidate its campaign structures and mobilise supporters before voters head to the polls on Saturday.
