Adeleke Inaugurates 344-Member Tinubu Campaign Council in Osun Amid APC Dispute

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has inaugurated a 344-member presidential campaign council to coordinate support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the January 2027 general election.

The inauguration took place in Osogbo on Thursday, October 22, bringing together political figures from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Accord Party.

The council is expected to mobilise voters across the state in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid. Its inauguration, however, has drawn attention to disagreements within the Osun APC over how the campaign structure was announced and organised.

Adeleke said the coalition aimed to secure more than the 1.5 million votes previously promised to the president. He described the arrangement as a partnership focused specifically on the presidential election.

The governor also clarified that the alliance would not prevent participating parties from supporting their respective candidates in senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly elections.

Prominent APC Leaders Absent From Inauguration

Several prominent APC figures were absent from the inauguration, including Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Gboyega Oyetola, Osun APC chairman Tajudeen Lawal and Bola Oyebamiji, the party’s candidate in the 2026 Osun governorship election.

Their absence followed concerns raised by the state APC chapter over the notice and organisation of the event.

In a statement issued before the inauguration, the party said it had not been adequately briefed about the exercise. It questioned the short notice and the lack of prior consultation with the party’s state leadership.

The disagreement centred on the announcement of the council’s membership and the arrangements for its inauguration. The APC leadership expressed concern that the process could create avoidable misunderstandings within the party.

Nevertheless, several senior political figures attended the event.

Those present included former Osun governor Adebisi Akande, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, former APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore and former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin.

Former PDP National Secretary Wale Oladipo and Osun PDP chairman Sunday Bisi were also among those reported to have attended.

The mix of attendees reflects the cross-party nature of the arrangement, although the disagreements surrounding its organisation remain unresolved in the available reports.

Why Is Adeleke Leading Tinubu’s Campaign in Osun?

Adeleke’s role is notable because he is a governor associated with the PDP, while Tinubu belongs to the APC.

The arrangement brings political structures from different parties together for a shared objective: supporting the president’s re-election campaign in Osun State.

At the inauguration, Adeleke described the arrangement as a coalition centred on the presidential election rather than a merger of the participating parties.

This distinction is important because the parties can continue to compete against one another in other contests scheduled for 2027.

APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru also called on political stakeholders to set aside their differences and work towards Tinubu’s re-election.

The campaign structure therefore seeks cooperation at the presidential level while leaving other electoral contests open to individual party interests.

What Happens Next?

The immediate questions concern how the campaign council will operate, how participating political groups will coordinate their activities and whether the disagreements within the Osun APC will affect the campaign’s organisation.

The inauguration establishes a structure for mobilising support, but it does not demonstrate how many votes the coalition will ultimately secure.

The absence of prominent APC leaders also leaves questions about the extent of coordination between the governor’s camp and the party’s state leadership.

As the January 2027 presidential election approaches, developments in Osun will provide further insight into how political alliances are being organised across party lines.

For now, Adeleke’s inauguration marks a formal step in Tinubu’s re-election preparations in the state, alongside a dispute over the consultation and participation of party leaders.