Osun 2026: APC National Secretary withdraws from guber race

By Jeleel Olawale

In a major political development less than three weeks before the scheduled primary, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has announced his withdrawal from the race for the party’s ticket in the 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Basiru made the surprise announcement on Saturday in Osogbo during the inauguration of Alubarika House, the new operational headquarters of his political movement in the Alekuwodo area.

Addressing a massive gathering of supporters, the former Senate spokesperson disclosed that his decision to step down from the December 13 primary was the product of extensive consultations and a strategic realignment of his priorities.

Basiru cited the demands of his current role at the national secretariat and deference to the party's leadership as the primary drivers of his decision.

“Considering the enormous responsibilities of my current office as National Secretary of our great party, and after due consultations with our esteemed leaders and stakeholders particularly the Leader of our party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu it has become necessary to state emphatically that I shall not be contesting the 2026 Osun State governorship election,” he declared.

He, however, clarified that his exit from the race does not signal a retreat from active politics. Instead, he framed it as a renewed commitment to strengthening the APC’s internal machinery and nurturing a new generation of leaders aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

To demonstrate his continued commitment to the state's political landscape, Basiru commissioned the Alubarika House, describing it as a strategic hub for meetings, political engineering, and empowerment programmes.

To kickstart operations, he announced a ₦50 million endowment grant to support initiatives driven from the facility.

With Basiru’s exit, the battle for the APC ticket remains fierce, with approximately 13 aspirants still in contention.

The field includes heavyweights such as the former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji; former Senate Committee Chairman on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare; and former Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Others vying for the ticket include lawyer and prince of Gbongan, Dotun Babayemi; former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi; Chairman of Mutual Benefits Assurance, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Adegoke.