Osun APC Renames Parallel Tinubu Campaign Council Parliamentary Council After Backlash, Expands Membership

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has scrapped its parallel presidential campaign structure and renamed it the Osun State All Progressives Congress Parliamentary Campaign Council, following protests from some state executives over its initial composition.

The party also expanded the council’s membership from 168 to 183 to accommodate all members of the State Executive Committee, with the revised body unveiled in Osogbo on Tuesday.

The controversy began after the APC Presidential Campaign Council appointed Governor Ademola Adeleke, a member of the Accord Party, as the state coordinator of Tinubu’s campaign during the inauguration of the national council in Abuja on October 14, 2026.

Adeleke subsequently inaugurated a separate 344-member campaign council comprising members of different political parties. In a counter-move, the Osun APC on Monday unveiled its own 168-member structure, appointing Bola Oyebamiji as Director-General and state chairman Tajudeen Lawal as Deputy Director-General.

The initial list triggered protests from four state executives: Publicity Secretary Wole Adunola, Welfare Officer Adesola Ayangbile, Assistant Organising Secretary Rasheed Adeniji, and Ex-Officio member Abiola Ololade. In a statement, the aggrieved officials said they rejected the list in its present form, expressing strong dissatisfaction with its composition.

“Of particular concern is the omission of several members of the State Working Committee who, according to the applicable guidelines, are expected to be statutory members of the council,” they stated.

“The exclusion of these recognised party officials raises serious concerns about consultation, due process and respect for the party’s established leadership structure”.

The executives also questioned why a separate structure emerged despite the earlier presidential directive naming Adeleke as state coordinator. “It is, therefore, unclear why a different structure has now emerged without adequate clarification or alignment with the existing arrangement,” they said.

They called for an immediate review of the published list with consultations involving relevant stakeholders, including APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru and Adeleke.

In the renamed and expanded parliamentary campaign council, Oyebamiji retained the post of Director-General, while his running mate Benjamin Adereti and Kehinde Olamolu serve as Assistant Directors-General 1 and 2 respectively. The three APC senatorial candidates and the nine House of Representatives candidates were also listed as members.

Other prominent inclusions are former governor Adebisi Akande, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, and APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru.

Announcing the revised structure, Lawal said the expansion was intended to strengthen the party’s mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

“As a party, we are resolute to work in unison with every member of the State Presidential Campaign Council to deliver on our mandate as we muster concerted efforts to ensure victory for all the National and State Assembly candidates of our great party,” Lawal stated.

The party explained that the parliamentary council would focus on mobilising support for APC candidates contesting National and State Assembly seats while working with the existing Presidential Campaign Council to secure victory for President Tinubu and other party candidates.

In a related development, Welfare Officer Adesola Ayangbile distanced herself from the protest statement, claiming she was neither consulted nor involved in its preparation before her name was included among the signatories.

In a separate statement, she said she did not authorise the use of her name and reaffirmed her loyalty to the APC, Tinubu’s re-election bid, former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and Oyebamiji.