Tinubu orders Osun APC aspirants to unite behind Consensus flagbearer

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday night met with leaders and governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, urging them to embrace unity, party supremacy and consensus-building ahead of the party’s primary scheduled for 13 December.

The meeting, held at the State House in Abuja, brought together key aspirants including 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.

Also present were the APC 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.

Addressing the aspirants, President Tinubu commended their contributions to the party and warned against the internal divisions that led to the APC’s defeat in the last Osun governorship election.

“You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State,” President Tinubu 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 in Osun State. You have my support and that of the national leadership of APC to win the coming election,” he added.

Tinubu urged the aspirants to close ranks and support the consensus candidate to be produced by the party, stressing that party cohesion was essential to electoral success.

At the end of the meeting, the aspirants and party leaders issued a joint declaration affirming their commitment to a peaceful and united nomination process.

In the statement, they pledged to uphold party supremacy and abide by the decision to nominate a consensus flagbearer.

“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,” the declaration read.

The aspirants further committed to supporting whoever emerges, promising not to undertake any action that could undermine the integrity of the process or the party.

They also vowed to work collectively to secure APC’s victory at the polls and to consolidate good governance in the 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,” the statement added.

The meeting is seen as a major step towards preventing internal conflict and ensuring a unified APC front ahead of the 2025 Osun governorship election.