As Osun State gears up for local government elections on February 22, 2025, political actors are shifting focus to the 2026 gubernatorial contest.
The zoning of the governorship ticket within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked intense debates and divisions among party stakeholders.
Factional Tensions Emerge

A group within the APC, operating under the aegis of Majiyagbe Progressives, is reportedly planning to split the party over alleged plans to impose Bola Oyebamiji as the APC gubernatorial candidate.
Oyebamiji, the current Managing Director of the National Inland Waterway Agency (NIWA), hails from Ikire in Osun West Senatorial District.
Sources claim that former Governor Chief Bisi Akande and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, are backing Oyebamiji’s candidacy.
Members of the Majiyagbe Progressives view this as an imposition and have vowed to resist such moves.
During a meeting on Monday, the group resolved to oppose efforts by the two former governors to allegedly dictate the party’s candidate for the 2026 election.
Opposition to the Allegations
In response, another faction within the APC, The Osun West Majiyagbe Ambassadors (TOWMA), has dismissed the allegations of candidate imposition as baseless and divisive.
Speaking on behalf of TOWMA, its Coordinator, Moshood Mujeeb, stressed the APC’s commitment to transparency and democratic processes.
Mujeeb defended the push for zoning the governorship ticket to Osun West, citing fairness and equity.
“It is only just that the district now be given the opportunity to represent the state and contribute to its leadership,” Mujeeb stated, adding that Osun West has remained loyal to the party despite years of marginalization.
He urged party members to reject misinformation and blackmail, emphasizing that the zoning initiative is a unifying effort to address historical imbalances.
Mujeeb further revealed that polling data and grassroots support indicate widespread backing for the initiative, aligning with the APC’s principles of inclusiveness.
Calls for Justice and Equity
APC leaders in Osun West, alongside former local government chairmen under the Forum of All Former Local Government Chairmen in Osun West, have called on Chief Akande and the party’s leadership to support the zoning of the governorship ticket to the district.
In their appeal, they argued that zoning to Osun West would ensure justice, fairness, and equity, while also positioning the party to unseat the incumbent, Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Osun West remains a significant stronghold for the APC, with stakeholders confident that a gubernatorial candidate from the district would energize party supporters and boost electoral success.
As political alignments shift ahead of 2026, all eyes remain on the APC’s leadership to navigate these tensions and maintain party unity.
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