President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met with leaders and governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, urging them to embrace unity, discipline, and consensus-building as the party prepares for its primary election scheduled for December 13.
The meeting, held Monday night at the State House in Abuja, brought together key aspirants seeking the party’s ticket for the 2025 Osun governorship election. Those in attendance included former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh, and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
Top APC leaders present at the meeting included the National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Tinubu Calls for Party Supremacy and Cohesion
President Tinubu praised the aspirants for their contributions to the party and appealed to them to avoid the internal divisions that undermined the APC’s chances in the previous Osun governorship election. He stressed the need for party supremacy and collective responsibility in selecting and supporting the candidate that will emerge from the scheduled primary.
“You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State,” the President said. “You must strengthen the bonds of unity, party supremacy, and collective responsibility. I have absolute confidence in your ability to deliver victory to our party. You have my support and that of the national leadership of the APC.”
Aspirants Commit to Consensus Candidate
At the end of the meeting, the aspirants and party leaders issued a joint declaration affirming their commitment to supporting the consensus candidate to be presented at the primary.
Full Joint Declaration
“We, the undersigned aspirants for the 2025 Osun State Governorship Election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having met and deliberated in the presence of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and in the spirit of unity, discipline, and loyalty to our great party, hereby declare as follows:
- We affirm and uphold the supremacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in guiding and determining the most appropriate process for selecting the party’s flag bearer for the 2025 Governorship Election in Osun State.
- We unanimously agree to abide by the party’s decision to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation at the APC Primary Election scheduled for Saturday, 13th December 2025.
- We accept the outcome of the party-led nomination process in good faith, and pledge our total support to the candidate so nominated and affirmed.
- We commit ourselves to peace, unity, and cohesion within the APC, and pledge not to engage in any act—public or private—that may undermine the integrity of the process or the standing of the party.
- We pledge to work collectively and individually to ensure the success of the APC at the polls and to advance good governance in Osun State.
“We make this declaration voluntarily, in absolute loyalty to our great party, and in recognition of the guidance provided by Mr President and the National Chairman in the overriding interest of the progress and stability of Osun State.”
