Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji has declared himself the only governorship candidate endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the August 15 Osun State election. The All Progressives Congress flagbearer made the claim during the inauguration of 7,830 polling unit canvassers in Ifedayo, Ila, and Boluwaduro federal constituencies. He dismissed reports of Tinubu’s alleged endorsement of Governor Ademola Adeleke as propaganda.
Oyebamiji’s statement comes amid intensifying political maneuvering in Osun State. The APC candidate framed his assertion as a direct rebuttal to what he called a coordinated effort by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to mislead voters. He told supporters that Tinubu’s backing remained exclusive to his candidacy. The declaration was delivered alongside his running mate, Engr. Benjamin Kayode Adereti, who stood beside him at the event.
The timing of Oyebamiji’s claim aligns with a broader pattern of presidential endorsements in Nigerian gubernatorial races. Since 2015, Tinubu’s political influence has shaped APC primaries and general elections across the Southwest. However, the Osun race presents a unique challenge. Governor Adeleke, who defeated former APC governor Gboyega Oyetola in 2022, now seeks re-election. The PDP has positioned Adeleke as a reformist leader, complicating APC’s narrative of change.
Oyebamiji’s campaign strategy relies heavily on grassroots mobilization. The inauguration of 7,830 canvassers signals an attempt to rebuild APC’s electoral machinery at the polling unit level. The party lost ground in 2022 when Adeleke won by a margin of 40,000 votes. Political analysts note that APC’s current effort mirrors the PDP’s successful 2022 playbook, which focused on ward-level engagement. The canvassers are tasked with voter education, turnout coordination, and real-time election day monitoring.
The APC candidate outlined a governance agenda centered on transparency and resource equity. He promised an administration guided by fairness, justice, and accountability. These themes resonate in Osun, where public sector wage disputes and infrastructure decay have dominated recent political discourse. Oyebamiji’s running mate, Adereti, emphasized technical expertise as a solution to the state’s economic challenges. The campaign’s messaging contrasts sharply with Adeleke’s focus on youth empowerment and digital governance.
Defections have become a defining feature of the Osun race. At the canvassers’ inauguration, APC welcomed Hon. Ganiyu Ajiboye and Hon. Sulaiman Oladoye Salawu, both former PDP members. Their crossover follows a trend of political realignment in the state. In 2022, Adeleke benefited from similar defections, including that of former APC Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti. The current wave of defections suggests a fluid political landscape, where loyalty shifts based on perceived electoral viability.
The APC campaign has also leveraged Tinubu’s political legacy in the Southwest. Oyebamiji’s team has framed the election as a referendum on Tinubu’s leadership. This strategy aims to consolidate the APC base while appealing to undecided voters. However, it carries risks. Tinubu’s national policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies, remain unpopular in Osun. The state’s economic struggles have fueled public discontent, which the PDP has sought to exploit. Oyebamiji’s challenge is to distance himself from unpopular federal policies while claiming Tinubu’s endorsement.
Independent observers note that the Osun election will test the effectiveness of grassroots mobilization in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape. The state’s 1.9 million registered voters are distributed across 3,010 polling units. APC’s canvasser initiative targets each unit with tailored messaging. The PDP, meanwhile, has relied on its incumbency advantage, including control of state resources and traditional institutions. The outcome may hinge on which party better translates its mobilization efforts into actual votes.
