2026 Osun Guber: APC Set to Affirm Oyebamiji as Flagbearer

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that its candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election will emerge through affirmation, pointing to a consensus-based primary process.

The Chairman of the party’s 2026 Osun governorship primary election committee and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, disclosed this on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo. He urged party members to cooperate to ensure a peaceful and rancour-free exercise.

The APC governorship primary is scheduled for Saturday, December 18, 2025, in Osogbo, the state capital.

The meeting was attended by key party stakeholders, including former Osun State Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly Timothy Owoeye, APC State Chairman Tajudeen Lawal, and Bola Oyebamiji, the leading aspirant.

Oyebamiji and former Ifelodun State Constituency lawmaker, Mulikat Abiola, were earlier cleared by the APC screening committee to contest the primary. Seven other aspirants, including former APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, were disqualified during the screening conducted at the party’s national headquarters.

Explaining the process, Governor Okpebholo said the primary would be conducted by consensus, with all 1,660 accredited delegates converging at the designated venue to affirm the party’s candidate.

He emphasised that only properly accredited delegates would be allowed into the venue, noting that the measure was aimed at ensuring transparency, fairness and accountability. He also called on party leaders, aspirants and members to support the committee and cooperate fully with officials overseeing the exercise.

Who is Bola Oyebamiji?

Bola Oyebamiji is a Nigerian politician, banker and public administrator who resigned as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in mid-November 2025 to pursue his ambition of becoming the next Governor of Osun State.

His resignation was in compliance with the Electoral Act, which requires public office holders to step aside before contesting elections. Since declaring his intention to run, Oyebamiji has emerged as a leading consensus figure within the APC and has received support from prominent party leaders, including Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Oyebamiji previously served Osun State as Commissioner for Finance under the administrations of former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola. He also served as Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy before he was appointed NIWA MD by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in October 2023.

Born in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, Oyebamiji attended A.D.C Primary School, Oke-Ada, Ikire, and Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire. He holds OND and HND qualifications in Banking and Finance from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, and has master’s degrees in Public Administration (Lagos State University) and Business Administration (University of Ado-Ekiti).

Before venturing fully into politics, he built a solid career in banking and finance, holding senior management positions at Wema Bank, Trans International Bank, Spring Bank and Enterprise Bank. He also served as Managing Director/CEO of the Osun State Investment Company Limited.

With decades of experience spanning banking, finance, governance and public administration, Oyebamiji is regarded as one of the most prominent contenders in the race to secure the APC ticket ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election.