…Says APC will reclaim Osun
…Blasts PDP over N10bn monthly allocation with ‘nothing to show’
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and immediate past Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, has announced that he will not be contesting in the state’s 2026 governorship election.
Oyetola made the disclosure at a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the Ileri-Oluwa Campaign Office along Gbongan-Osogbo Road in Osogbo.
He said he had withdrawn from the governorship race, praying for divine guidance for the eleven APC aspirants who have so far declared interest in the party’s ticket.
“I am no longer interested in the 2026 governorship race. I wish all the aspirants success in their ambition. I encourage everyone to support whoever emerges as the candidate and avoid attacking one another,” Oyetola said.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the maturity and discipline displayed by the aspirants in their campaigns and urged them to sustain the cordial atmosphere in the collective interest of the party.
He reminded the contenders that they belong to one political family competing for a single ticket and called on those who do not secure the nomination to rally behind the eventual flagbearer and work diligently for the party’s victory.
Oyetola reaffirmed the APC’s resolve to reclaim power in Osun in next year’s election, describing the task of returning the party to government as essential.
He appealed to party leaders and members to remain united and committed to wide-scale mobilisation, saying the APC continues to attract new supporters.
“Our party’s doors are open to credible individuals. We are welcoming people in large numbers, which is proof of our vitality and growing strength,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of mass participation in the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and the collection of Permanent Voter Cards, describing these as crucial to electoral success.
“The APC remains the party to beat. It has always been my dream to build a strong, credible and enduring party that would bring the progressives back to government. With God on our side, we will win next year’s governorship election in Osun and deliver our state with overwhelming votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election,” Oyetola added.
Criticising the incumbent administration, Oyetola noted that Osun currently receives over ₦10 billion monthly in federal allocations compared to about ₦2 billion during his tenure but has little to show for it.
“We have strong reasons to return our party to government. Our aspirants are highly qualified individuals with outstanding records, and this is a major strength for the APC. We will continue to support the Federal Government’s efforts across all sectors,” he said.