Former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore have declared their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Oyinlola, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), announced his support for Oyebamiji alongside Omisore, another prominent politician in the state.
Oyinlola said the decision was based on what he described as the need for a new direction in Osun State.
“In this particular moment, Osun State requires a different direction. It is on this basis that we have resolved to officially declare our support for Mr Bola Oyebamiji,” he said.
Reacting to the endorsement, Oyebamiji described Oyinlola’s support as evidence of a shared conviction that Osun requires a new direction based on justice, fairness, inclusion and development.
“I am deeply honoured by the decision of members of the PDP in Osun State, led by former Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to endorse my candidacy for Governor of Osun State,” Oyebamiji said.
He said the endorsement went beyond partisan politics, adding that it reflected a shared desire for an administration that would benefit all parts of the state.
“This endorsement is more than political support; it is a reflection of a shared conviction that Osun deserves a new direction, one founded on justice, fairness, inclusion and development that reaches every part of our state,” he said.
The APC Campaign Council welcomed the endorsement, describing it as a major boost to Oyebamiji’s campaign ahead of the poll.
The council said other prominent political figures from the PDP, Accord and other political structures had also endorsed the APC candidate. They include former Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, former Secretary to the Osun State Government Fatai Akinbade and former PDP National Vice-Chairman Tajudeen Oladipo.
According to the campaign council, the growing endorsements indicate that the election is increasingly being viewed beyond partisan considerations and around the question of the direction of governance in Osun State.
Oyinlola, who governed Osun State from 2003 to 2010, had supported incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke during the 2022 governorship election.
The APC campaign council, however, said Oyinlola had since become critical of the Adeleke administration, accusing it of failing to fulfil some of its electoral promises.
The council also attributed the description of the Adeleke administration as a “voodoo government” to Oyinlola, alleging that the administration’s policies and financial dealings lacked transparency.
Oyebamiji promised that, if elected, his administration would treat every citizen equally regardless of political affiliation, senatorial district, religion or community.
“Every citizen deserves to feel the impact of government and every part of Osun deserves a fair opportunity to grow,” he said.
The APC candidate is campaigning on a seven-point prosperity agenda focused on education, healthcare, agriculture, youth and women empowerment, wealth creation and industrialisation.
He has also promised to make transparency and accountability central to his administration while ensuring equitable distribution of government resources across the state.
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
