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Osun APC protests its exclusion from the formation and planned inauguration of President Bola Tinubu’s state campaign committee, saying it was neither consulted nor formally notified
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Party says it learnt of the Adeleke-coordinated committee through social media less than 24 hours to its inauguration, leaving key APC leaders and stakeholders shut out
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State Chairman Tajudeen Lawal alleges the hurried arrangement was calculated to create friction between the APC leadership and Governor Ademola Adeleke
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Despite the row, APC backs Adeleke’s coordinating role and cross-party collaboration for Tinubu, but warns the President’s re-election project must not be handled with levity
October 23, (THEWILL) – A fresh crisis has hit President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in Osun State, following a protest by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its alleged exclusion from the process leading to the inauguration of a presidential campaign committee coordinated by Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The disagreement erupted just hours before the scheduled inauguration, with the APC saying its leadership was kept completely in the dark over the composition of the committee and arrangements for the event.
In a statement, the Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, expressed strong reservations over the process, arguing that a presidential re-election campaign involving the ruling party and other political interests required extensive consultation, proper planning and adherence to official protocol.
According to Lawal, the state leadership only became aware of the committee after a list was circulated on social media by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, less than 24 hours before the inauguration.
He said the short notice effectively shut out key APC leaders and stakeholders who ordinarily should have been consulted and given sufficient time to participate in an exercise directly connected with the re-election of a President elected on the party’s platform.
“We are talking about the re-election of the President of the nation under the largest democratic party in sub-Saharan Africa, and not the election of a council chairman or a councillor. Such an exercise requires the highest level of official protocol to ensure its success”, Lawal said.
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The APC chairman maintained that the party could not be treated as an afterthought in the organisation of Tinubu’s campaign in Osun, particularly when its established structures across the state would be required to mobilise voters for the President.
The party also questioned why its leadership was not consulted before the committee was unveiled, alleging that the hurried announcement appeared designed to create friction between the APC and Adeleke, who is serving as coordinator of the President’s campaign in the state.
However, the APC carefully separated its objection to the process from Adeleke’s appointment, making clear that it was neither rejecting the governor’s coordinating role nor opposing political concessions and cross-party cooperation considered necessary for Tinubu’s victory.
“We are reiterating the fact that we are not opposed to making concessions for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We also agree that the appointment of Governor Adeleke as the state coordinator would boost our candidate’s chances through joint efforts”, Lawal said.
The party said its concern was that such cooperation must not come at the expense of consultation with the APC structure or create uncertainty over the respective roles of longstanding party leaders and new political allies being brought into the President’s campaign.
It called for greater transparency and seriousness in managing the campaign, warning that a political project involving the re-election of the President must not be handled with levity.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
