The All Progressives Congress (APC) inaugurated its National Campaign Council for the Osun State governorship election on Tuesday, with the party's national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, describing the poll as a major test of the party's political strength and preparedness ahead of the 2027 general election.
Litmus test for 2027
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Yilwatda said the party had assembled experienced political leaders and stakeholders from across the country to coordinate its campaign and secure victory for its governorship candidate, Munirudeen Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO. The council comprises serving and former governors, members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, deputy governors, party leaders, business leaders, and other political stakeholders.
Yilwatda emphasized that the composition of the council reflects the depth of political experience and organizational capacity available to the ruling party. "If there is any political party in Nigeria that has human resources in abundance, it is the APC. If there is any political party that has the most experienced politicians in Nigeria, it is the APC," he said.
Osun election as rehearsal before 2027
The APC chairman noted that the party has the political structure and manpower to compete successfully at every level, from councillorship and local government elections to governorship and presidential contests. He described the Osun election, scheduled for 15 August, as the APC's final major electoral test before the 2027 general election.
"This will be our litmus test. It will measure our level of preparedness for 2027. This will be our practice ground. It will be our rehearsal for the political machine we are preparing for 2027," Yilwatda stated. He said winning Osun is a major priority for the party, adding that its governors, lawmakers, local government chairmen, councillors, and other political leaders would be deployed for intensive grassroots mobilization.
Grassroots mobilisation and women's role
The campaign will focus on direct engagement with voters through person-to-person and house-to-house mobilisation across communities, extending across the state irrespective of ethnicity, language, or place of origin. Yilwatda also assigned a prominent role to the party's women's wing, stressing that women will be central to the APC's grassroots campaign and voter mobilisation strategy.
He expressed confidence that the calibre of political leaders appointed to the council would strengthen the party's chances at the polls. "The people standing here are men and women of great political strength who can withstand any political party in Osun State," he said before formally inaugurating the council.
Uzodimma pledges issue-based campaign
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the campaign council, said its members accepted the assignment with humility and determination to justify the confidence placed in them by the party leadership. He described the responsibility as an obligation to the APC, to Nigeria's democracy, and to the people of Osun State.
"This is a collective responsibility. Every member of this council, every leader, every member of our party and every progressive stakeholder has a vital role to play. There can be no spectator in a mission of this importance," Uzodimma said. He pledged that the APC would run an issue-based, evidence-driven, and respectful campaign focused on engaging the people of Osun and presenting Oyebamiji as a competent and people-centred leader.
Focus on achievements and respectful engagement
The governor said the campaign would be anchored on the achievements of the APC-led federal government under President Bola Tinubu as well as the party's record of governance across the country. He described Tinubu as a courageous leader whose Renewed Hope Agenda was laying the foundation for a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
The campaign council will engage workers, farmers, market women, artisans, professionals, young people, traditional and religious leaders, and persons with disabilities across communities, local government areas, wards, and polling units. Uzodimma said the APC would not be distracted by criticism from opposition parties, misinformation, or social media campaigns. "We will answer falsehood with facts. We will respond to insults with discipline, propaganda with performance, and provocation with peace," he said.
He also pledged that the APC would support a peaceful, free, and credible election, stressing that no political ambition was worth the blood of any Nigerian. "Our campaign will be vigorous without violence, competitive without bitterness, and confident without arrogance. We shall conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Omoluabi ethos of Osun State," Uzodimma added.
Oyebamiji confident of victory
The APC governorship candidate, Munirudeen Oyebamiji, welcomed the constitution of the campaign council, saying the calibre of leaders appointed had generated excitement among party members and supporters across Osun. He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee for their support and commitment to the party's campaign in the state.
Oyebamiji said the APC has continued to take its message of prosperity, good governance, and the Renewed Hope Agenda to communities across the state since his emergence as the party's candidate. The party has intensified its engagement with traditional rulers, private-sector operators, market men and women, students, artisans, professionals, religious leaders, women, and young people.
Strengthening presence across all electoral units
According to him, the APC is strengthening its presence across Osun's three senatorial districts, nine federal constituencies, 26 state constituencies, 30 local government areas, 332 political wards, and 3,762 polling units. Oyebamiji said the party has received strong support from women and young people, citing recent solidarity activities across several towns and cities in the state.
He expressed confidence that the APC is prepared to reclaim the governorship and return Osun to what he described as the progressive fold. "The people of Osun State are ready. The Osun APC is ready. Our campaign is ready. Together, we will win. Together, we will rescue Osun. Together, we will build a prosperous and sustainable Osun State," Oyebamiji said. He pledged to work closely with members of the campaign council and other party stakeholders to secure victory for the APC in the August governorship election.
Council composition
In a statement on Sunday, the APC announced the full composition of the campaign council. Apart from Chairman Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Yobe State, Mala Buni, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, will serve as co-chairmen. The party also announced that Ibrahim Masari, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Political and Other Matters, will serve as deputy chairman, while the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, will serve as secretary of the council.
Off-cycle election significance
The election is scheduled for Saturday, 15 August and will be conducted separately from the 2027 general elections as an off-cycle governorship poll. Osun is one of the states where governorship elections are held outside the regular nationwide electoral cycle because of the timing of previous elections and the constitutional tenure of governors.
Governor Ademola Adeleke was sworn in on 27 November 2022 after winning the 16 July 2022 governorship election, thereby delaying the next governorship contest to 2026 rather than holding it alongside the 2027 general elections. The off-cycle nature of the election has given the contest wider political significance, particularly as it will be the last major governorship election before the 2027 general elections.
