The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State converged on the country home of the pioneer national chairman of the party, Chief Adebisi Akande, in Ila Orangun yesterday and affirmed the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, as the party leader in the state.
They implored loyalists of the party to shun divisive tendencies just as the leaders called for continued unity, peace, harmony and team spirit to reclaim government for the progressive party in the state, come 2026.
Recall that Oyetola, a former Osun State governor has been locked in a tussle over the control of APC with his predecessor, Raul Aregbesola.
However, APC stakeholders in a communique issued at the end of the meeting yesterday, urged party’s loyalists to mobilise massively for the party’s e-registration coming up soon in line with the directive of the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.
The communique read in parts: “Upon a motion moved by the National Secretary of APC, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru and seconded by Pa. Gbadebo Ajao, party leaders and stakeholders unanimously reaffirmed His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola as Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“The meeting urged for unity and strengthening of the party in the state, hence, the need for party leaders to shun divisive tendencies.
“On e-registration, the party members were urged not to allow disloyal members to participate.”
Chieftains of the party in attendance included, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; Osun former governor, Chief Adebisi Akande; APC state chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal; former Deputy governors, Mrs. Grace Ponle and Mr. Benedict Alabi; Chairman Osun APC Forum of Elders, Engr. Sola Akinwumi, Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun among others.
Earlier, Akande urged the party loyalists to remain steadfast and faithful to the principles and tenets of the party as the state approaches the next governorship election.
He commended what was being done and highlighted the fact that though the party is not in government there hasn’t been any major defection from the party saying “that signal the commitment of our party leaders and members to the growth and development of the party.
His words: “By the tradition of the party, where there is a Governor, he is the leader of the party but in view of the fact that presently our party is not the one that produced the Governor of the state, there is a need to formally nominate and have a leader of the party,” he said.
