ABUJA, Nigeria — All eight governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State have agreed to adopt and support a consensus candidate ahead of the party’s primary election scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The decision followed a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, December 8, 2025.
In a jointly signed statement released after the meeting, the aspirants pledged to abide by the party’s choice of flagbearer and commit fully to a unified front.
The declaration was signed by Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke, Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
“That we unanimously agree to abide by the party’s decision to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation at the APC Primary Election scheduled for Saturday, 13th December 2025,” the statement said.
“That we accept the outcome of the party-led nomination process in good faith, and pledge our total support to the candidate so nominated and affirmed.
“That we commit ourselves to peace, unity, and cohesion within the APC, and pledge not to engage in any act, public or private, that may undermine the integrity of the process or the standing of the party.”
Party officials who attended the meeting included Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC national chairman; George Akume, the secretary to the government of the federation; Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State; and Adegboyega Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy.
According to party sources, Tinubu convened the meeting to avoid a repeat of the internal divisions that contributed to the APC’s defeat in the 2022 Osun governorship election.
The unity pledge comes as the party faces internal tensions from the screening process for the upcoming primary.
The APC screening committee has barred Iyiola Omisore and six other aspirants from participating in the Saturday, December 13, 2025, exercise.
According to the panel, the seven disqualified aspirants failed to provide evidence of sponsorship by at least five fully registered and financially up-to-date members of the party from each local government area.
The requirement is outlined in the APC constitution and the guidelines governing the nomination process.
