Four members of the All Progressives Congress State Executive Committee in Osun State have rejected the party’s recently unveiled presidential campaign council, describing its composition as inconsistent with established party guidelines and demanding an immediate review.
The aggrieved executives accused the party leadership of excluding key state officials from the campaign structure without adequate consultation, warning that the development could create confusion and deepen divisions within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Their position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo and signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Wole Adunola; Welfare Officer, Adesola Ayangbile; Assistant Organising Secretary, Rasheed Adeniji; and State Ex-Officio member, Abiola Ololade.
They argued that several members of the State Working Committee, who should ordinarily be statutory members of the campaign council under the party’s guidelines, were omitted from the published list.
The executives also questioned the emergence of a new campaign structure despite an earlier presidential directive reportedly appointing Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, as Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council in the state.
They said the governor had subsequently inaugurated a broad-based campaign team, making it necessary for the party to clarify the relationship between the existing arrangement and the newly released list.
“Following a careful review, we express our strong dissatisfaction with the composition of the list, which, in our view, does not adequately reflect established party guidelines, due process and the principle of inclusiveness required in constituting such an important campaign structure. We, therefore, reject the list in its present form,” the statement read.
The four officials further suggested that the published list might have been intended for parliamentary campaigns rather than the presidential campaign, urging the party to clarify its purpose to prevent overlapping responsibilities.
“If the newly released list is intended to serve as a Parliamentary Campaign Council rather than the Presidential Campaign Council, its composition would be more understandable. This distinction must be clearly established to avoid confusion, duplication of responsibilities and unnecessary friction within the party’s campaign structure,” they stated.
They maintained that the State Executive Committee remained a critical component of the party’s organisational structure and should not be excluded from decisions concerning a state-wide campaign council.
Consequently, the executives called for an immediate review of the list, with consultations involving relevant stakeholders, including the APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, and the State Director-General.
They also urged the party leadership at both the state and national levels to address the concerns and make necessary adjustments before the campaign structure begins its operations.
“Our position is clear: we need a campaign council that respects party structures, recognises legitimate leadership, accommodates critical stakeholders and unites all members towards electoral victory,” the statement added.
Reaffirming their support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, the executives said their objection was aimed at ensuring that the party entered the 2027 elections with a united and properly coordinated campaign structure.
“We remain fully committed to the success of our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the overall interests of the APC. However, the current composition of the PCC list must be reviewed to reflect the inclusiveness and institutional respect necessary for a united and formidable campaign,” they said.
The development follows the unveiling of a 168-member presidential and parliamentary campaign council by the Osun APC to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election and other party candidates in the 2027 general elections.
The list, announced in a statement signed by the state APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, named Bola Oyebamiji, the party’s candidate in the August 8, 2027 governorship election, as Director-General of the campaign council, while Lawal was appointed Deputy Director-General.
